As the sun sets and the stars begin to smile, a group of people are sent around the area for nightpatrolling.
It is this activity which has brought the residents together to form a forum. A call to form a residents’ welfare association was given in 1999. Around 14 years ago, the Association was started and registered with immediate effect.
On the occasion, a blood donation camp was organised in association with the Chennai Central Lion’s Club. The founder-secretary of the Nanganallur Eastern Sector Residents’ Welfare Association is J. Subramanian.
The jurisdiction of the Sector association spreads over Ward 164 and 167 (partly) in Zone 12, Ward 168 in Zone 14, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd Main Road, Second Main Road and Sixth Main Road Extension, Nanganallur.
Ganapathy is the president, B. Sridhar secretary, V. Rajagopal joint secretary, J. Subramanian treasurer, and K. Ramanathan joint-treasurer. The committee members are V. Narayanan, S. Jawahar, S. Rajagopalan, S. Sadasivam, P. Subramanian and K. Muralidharan.
“The objective of the Association is to co-ordinate with government officials and elected representatives on issues facing the residents, irrespective of their political affiliations, night-patrolling, and cultivating a spirit of patriotism. To date, the Association members are active in the night-patrolling activity,” B. Sridhar said.
On national holidays like Republic Day and Independence Day, the residents’ forum makes it a point that the national flag should be hoisted by a freedom fighter or a Tamil research scholar. Apart from this, the Association conducts devotional discourses in Tamil and cultural programmes for children.
The Federation honours Standard X and XII Board examination toppers, and best school teachers every year in Nanganallur, and has contributed clothes and cash towards the Chief Minister Relief Fund for Tsunami.
The Association has honoured the staff of emergency utilities services in recognition of their services, and has sponsored dramas to encourage talented new-comer artistes.
The Association, a member of the United Forum of Nanganallur Welfare Association, conducts periodical meetings with the Chennai Police to sensitise the residents on basic safety measures and has pioneered door-to-door garbage disposal scheme till Chennai Corporation limits are extended.
“We have dealt with residents’ civic issues effectively to date. The Corporation, State and Central Government officials are very co-operative with the residents in solving issues. The civic body has laid new roads in areas within the Association’s jurisdiction. A new road has to be laid on 20th Street. The Corporation is taking all the efforts to lay a road on the thoroughfare at the earliest.
We want a mini-bus service to be introduced via Moovarasmpet, Lakshmi Nagar, Second and Sixth Main Road, Thillai Ganga Nagar, and through Anjaneyar Temple in Nanganallur,” Sridhar said.
