Sri. Anand Kumar S.K, Proprietor, Master Plannery, Puttur and some of his achievements:

Master Plannery, the conglomerate:

The growth of Master Plannery is a phenomenon by itself ever since Sri. Anand Kumar S.K took over the reins. From a hobby industry started by  his father, it has become a widely diversified entity, with ten subsidiaries. In addition to construction, the other areas of involvement are manufacture of Concood products, establishment as a Nirmithi Kendra, Rural Development Centre, Contracting of public works, fabrication of steel and wood furniture for various applications, paint and cement sales, co-operative banking agriculture, education and grocery retail/wholesale.

Sri. Anand Kumar S.K is primarily responsible for evolving and introducing quite a few innovative techniques and products, to the building industry. His innovative mind has given birth to a woodless construction technology, by way of developing a material which has been named Concoodä, registered in his name with the Trade Marks Registry, Chennai. This unique technology has been developed to such an extent that one can hardly see any item of wood even inside a house, where one sees, in general, wooden furniture, shelves, cots etc. All these items are now made with Concood! This is an environment friendly technology (being a wood/forest saving technology). This is the need of the hour and, the whole world is advancing towards such technologies, in order to save our planet from the ill effects of de-forestation. Concood technology has already saved a few lakhs of trees thereby, contributing to the effort of the Government to preserve our precious forests.

In the process of the evolution, Master Plannery and the subsidiaries have grown in population, from 5 members to more than 700. Main objective is to provide work to enable people to earn a sustainable living and provide opportunities, to fresh hands, to develop skills too.

In recognition of his tireless work, Govt. of Karnataka has bestowed the status of a Nirmithi Kendra, on Master Plannery, in the year 2003. This is the only "Nirmithi Kendra" in private sector. The main activity is to provide technology to entrepreneurs, impart training to interested parties and rejuvenate other Nirmithi Kendras in the state of Karnataka.

There are quite a few projects, big and small, which has been successfully completed all over the state of Karnataka. A major project, highly appreciated by authorities in high circles of the Government, was formation of a complex of 238 low cost houses with supporting infrastructure such as roads and drainage system, for the local population in Bellary. It is a unique project, using innovative techniques to stabilize construction in black cotton soil, which, no other agency was ready to take up. An innovative, highly cost saving technique was used in the roofing slabs for the houses in this project.  Logistics of executing such a project successfully, so far away from head quarters at Puttur, was made possible under the able guidance of Sri. Anand Kumar.

A similar project is currently under execution for the Govt. of Karnataka, Wild Life Division, at Hunsur. The project requires 300 houses to be constructed and other amenities provided, for the purpose of rehabilitation of tribal population in and around the area.

Sri. Anand Kumar S.K was a Consultant to the Government of Karnataka for a construction project, for developing Chamarajnagar district. The project was completed successfully in Dec.2006, and was cited as a model, by the authorities.

In addition to his involvement in construction industry, he has given a facelift to agriculture in the rural areas. In an era when agriculture has become non-sustainable due to various reasons and policies of the government, he has made it sustainable under his management. This is made possible by a "labour cross over technique" which he implemented, to sustain both industry and agriculture. Labour force is generally inclined to work in industries (not in agriculture lands). Hence labour is recruited for running industries in the subsidiaries of Master Plannery located in rural areas such as Alikemajalu (Bantwal taluq), Shishila (Belthangady taluq) and Madav (Puttur taluq), where they fabricate Concood products. Hence the same labour force is transported to work on the lands as and when required, for plantation works. This operation has multi-faceted advantages. The labour becomes trained in both industrial and farming sectors, making them multi-skilled which have its own advantages. On the whole, the same labour, manufactures material that replace/save wood at one time and plant a forest, at other times. Our district is going to be green all over, once again.

Amidst all the greenery, there is a Kannada medium school being run in Sullia taluq. This school caters to the needs, of the local students, both physical and mental,  upto S.S.L.C. Sri. Anand Kumar S.K is Vice President of the Sneha Shikshana Trust.

Sri. Anand Kumar S.K was the founder President of PACE (Puttur Association of Civil Engineers). He continues to be an active member of the association.

Our customer base is spread all over the state and spills over to a few far off places too. Some of our esteemed customers are KVG group of institutions- Sullia taluq, NMAMIT-Nitte-D.K., Canara Engineering College - Mangalore, New Horizon group of institutions-Bangalore, National Institute of Technology Karnataka – Surathkal,  University of Mangalore, New Mangalore Port Trust, Konkan Railways, South Western Railways etc. Master Plannery has supplied storm water drain covers of a unique proprietary design, in large numbers to Bangalore Mahanagara Palike. All these customers and many others at all levels of our society (meaning both rich and not so rich) have benefited, from the R&D efforts of Master Plannery, to supply them with economically priced, good quality, durable and environment friendly products.

Awards won by Sri. Anand Kumar S.K:

• Engineer of the year – 2002, awarded by KVG Group,
• Sullia"Parisarapremi" award presented on Engineers' Day (2003) by Civil Engineers & Architects Association,
• Davangere Guest of Honour – presented on Engineers' Day (2003) by Forum of practicing Architects & Civil Engineers (R), Davangere
• B.R. Samaga – Best Engineer Award –  2006, presented by The Institution of Engineers, Mangalore Local Centre
• Strive for excellence – 2007,  presented by NMAM Institute of Technology, Nitte
• Certificate of commendation for using innovative material and construction technique (2007) presented by Association of Consulting Civil engineers (I), Mangalore Centre and Ultratech Cement Co.
• Out-standing Concrete Engineer of Karnataka – 2008, endowment award jointly given by Indian Concrete Institute (KBC) and Ultratech Cement Co.
• TOBIP award, given by Junior Chamber International, Puttur, on the occasion of Jaycee week – 08 for the achievement in the field of Business, Industry and Profession.
• TOBIP award, given by Junior Chamber International, India, at a meeting in Pondicherry in December, 2008.

Vision for the future:

Plan to establish labour oriented industries, producing wood-alternative material, in as many rural areas at our district level, state level and then, at national level.