Introduction

According to latest seismic zonation map given in IS: 1893: 2002 (Criteria for earthquake resistant design of structures), more than 60\% of India is prone to earthquakes. Metropolitan cities like Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad \textbf{etc.,} lie in zone III or above. Not only are these cities, but many other places in India are prone to moderate to severe earthquakes. In the event of earthquake in any of these areas, property and life will be very high. Main reason for the casualties is collapse of buildings. In order to minimize the casualties and other losses, we must ensure the construction of safe building infrastructure and for that we need to raise the capacity among existing personnel at following levels towards earthquake resistant design \& construction:

Engineering \& polytechnic college faculty

Government organizations

Consulting engineers

Masons \& bar-benders

Myths/Constraints for earthquake resistant design:

Earthquake resistant design needs special equipments/expertise

Earthquake resistant design will increase the cost of the project greatly

Even after designing for earthquake resistance there is no guarantee that structure withstands

Earthquake will not occur in our area because we are in low seismic Zone.

Myths/Constraints for earthquake resistant design:

EERC organizes training programmes and workshops to engineers, consultants and faculty members regularly on analysis and design of earthquake resistant structures. In addition to this, it also organizes one-day training programmes to masons and barbenders.

By attending these training courses, individuals get an overview of earthquake resistant design.

During each course around 20-25 participants only are allowed so that healthy interaction takes place.

Necessary reading metarial and example problems will be given to participants so that they may carry out analysis and design later on by themselves.

We found during the short courses that department wise programmes have been very successful.