Hundreds of Chennai's relocated urban poor turned a slogan-led protest into a powerful public outcry on Sunday, detailing severe neglect in their resettlement colonies. The gathering, organized by anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam under the banner 'Kelu Chennai Kelu' (Listen Chennai Listen) at Egmore, saw more than 500 residents unite to voice long-ignored grievances affecting tens of thousands of families.
Colonies in Crisis: From Drug Menace to Structural Dangers
Residents from major resettlement sites painted a grim picture of daily life. From Perumbakkam, which houses approximately 24,000 families, attendees highlighted rampant drug abuse and critical safety failures in schools. S Jayapriya, 33, revealed that students have easy access to narcotics. "There are four schools, but they are poorly managed. Students escape through the compound walls even during class hours," she said.
This alarming situation forces Jayapriya to send her daughter to a government school in Santhome, their original locality before relocation. The commute, however, is punishing and unsafe due to inadequate bus services. "My daughter leaves at 6.30 am and reaches home only by 7pm," she explained.
The transportation crisis is widespread. Residents from Kannagi Nagar, home to about 23,000 families, complained of severe bus connectivity issues. While the area requires 65 MTC buses, only 30 are currently operated, leaving thousands stranded.
Buildings That Break Lives: Lift Malfunctions and Missing Railings
In K P Park, Pulianthope, where over 2,000 families reside, long-standing structural defects continue to endanger lives. R Sangeetha shared a harrowing account of her father being severely injured due to a lift malfunction, leaving his face unrecognizable. Another resident recounted the tragedy of her son falling from the seventh floor because of absent window railings. "Even now, balconies and windows remain unsafe in the tenements," she stated.
Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of Arappor Iyakkam, pointed to unaddressed construction lapses identified by IIT-Madras at KP Park. "Findings showed the contractor used 15 bags of sand for every bag of cement, instead of the permitted six," he revealed, underscoring the root of the safety hazards.
A Charter of Demands for Dignified Living
The NGO presented a list of 10 urgent demands to the government, calling for immediate action. The key demands include:
- Immediate repair of unsafe buildings and structural audits.
- Daily supply of clean water and a regulated power supply.
- Making all lifts functional and ensuring proper sewage systems.
- Establishing round-the-clock medical facilities.
- Providing adequate bus services and creating local employment opportunities.
- Stringent action against drug abuse with rehabilitation for affected persons.
- Setting up a time-bound grievance redressal mechanism.
The protest served as a stark reminder that for thousands relocated in the name of urban development, basic safety, dignity, and civic amenities remain a distant dream. The collective message from Egmore was clear: Chennai must listen.
