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Speaking out against civic anomalies… city pulse

City Bureau

The collective power of civic activists puts pressure on government agencies to perform better

— Photo: M. Karunakaran

COLLECTIVE ZEAL: Environment-friendly activities such as solid waste segregation at source being taken up by resident welfare associations like this one in Kalakshetra Colony .

Chennai: Many a civic grievance would have gone unaddressed, had it not been for the voices raised by residents’ welfare organisations. The collective power of civic activists has not only put pressure on government agencies to perform better but also championed causes such as environment conservation.

The city and its suburbs have several examples of civic activism.

Residents of Kalakshetra Colony in Besant Nagar are looking at ways to implement zero waste management, a welfare association in Pallavaram is fighting to protect water odies and an Ambattur-based association takes up night patrols.

The residents’ welfare movement is stronger in suburbs than in the core city as the members there seek better infrastructure in their localities.

Shanthi Krishnan, vice-president of Kalakshetra Colony Welfare Association, said a few members had recently met Rajesh Lakhoni, Corporation Commissioner, and Sheela Rani Chunkath, convener of the expert committee on the Pallikaranai wetlands, to chalk out a plan to manage solid waste at source in their locality. “We have planned a public meeting for a larger group on Saturday. We hope that at least one member in each house in the colony will attend,” she said.

Committed members

Most of the associations have a strong representation of senior citizens. The members frequently update themselves about various development schemes proposed by their local bodies. Several members have been involved in the associations for more than two decades and this has helped them to maintain a long-term, cordial relationship with the local officials and elected representatives.

R.V.Nagar (Anna Nagar East) Welfare Association president P.S. Ganesan said a group of friends formed the association during the 1960s. “We suffered a lot initially to bring in basic facilities in the area, be it streetlights lights or roads,” he said.

He said more young people need to involve themselves. “I used to juggle between work and association service earlier. But many youngsters hesitate to be part of such association, as it demands time, funds and involvement.”

Members of Srinivasa Nagar residents’ welfare association, an area that borders on Kolathur and Villivakkam, can take credit for bringing several facilities to the area. G. Muralikrishna, general secretary of the association, said the association had even introduced tricycles for garbage clearance.

“We used to have monthly meetings earlier. With most of the problems in the area solved, the frequency of such meetings has decreased,” he said.

K. Ganapathy, general secretary of Ambattur Krishnapuram residents’ welfare association said such associations not only serve as a bridge between residents and officials, they also develop a sense of unity and cooperation among the residents.

A vacant land facing a threat of encroachments was successfully turned into a park, which now has open air concerts regularly. Besides cultural activities and night patrolling, medical camps are also organised regularly.

“Our association also has a sizeable representation of women who serve the society,” said Mr. Ganapathy.

Crusading on

All is not rosy when it comes to civic activism. Many persons who take up public causes have been threatened or attacked. The attack on activist V.Santhanam of Chromepet in May 2003, the arrest of S.Narayanaswamy of Pammal on charges of breaking a dustbin in December 2006 and attack on the house of T. Retna Pandian in Pallavaram in March 2007 are instances of the response of vested interests to snuff out the public voice.

Those raising disturbing and uncomfortable questions constantly face intimidation. In many places near Tambaram, it is common for relatives of councillors or chiefs of local bodies to threaten members of civic groups when they organise and raise their voice against a malpractice.

More and more activists who do not have influential support have started approaching courts and using provisions of Right to Information Act instead of direct action. Primarily, it is the urge to speak out against anomalies that drives people to take up social issues.

However, there is also another side to activism, where at times, the crusaders, perhaps, go overboard and resort to demonstrations or protest meetings aimed only at publicity.

Activists in the southern suburbs of Chennai have several inspiring success stories with regard to improving their place of living. The redesigning of the road over bridge at Tambaram Sanatorium would not have been possible without the collective efforts of the residents with genuine demands.

The residents’ welfare movement is a strong lobby for better civic amenities in a city that is beset with problems such as traffic congestion, encroachments and neglect of water bodies. When people take the responsibility on themselves to find solutions to their problems, they get a sense of being an integral part of the society, said M.B. Nirmal, founder of non-government organisation Exnora International.

(With inputs from Kannal Achuthan, K. Lakshmi and K. Manikandan)

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