Road rokos, demonstrations, hunger strikes and even gheraoing politicians and officials are among the traditional forms of protest aimed at drawing the government’s attention to civic problems.
Now, novel forms of protest seem to be replacing them.
On Thursday, some people were busy filling potholes on a damaged portion of Poonamallee High Road between Maduravoyal and Koyambedu.
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Those who stopped by realised that the residents and members of a voluntary organisation were mending the damaged stretch.
Mending roads
Frustrated over the delay in repairing the road, members of Maduravoyal Residents Welfare Federation and Public and Environment Awareness Society resorted to such a measure to prevent accidents for the second time in four months.
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B. Varadharajan, the association’s president said: “We had already given several representations. So, we adopted this strategy to get the attention of the authorities. In August, officials held talks with us and assured is that the road would be relaid. But, it got battered again in the recent rain.”
S. Yuvaraj, the society’s president said: “People from other areas such as Porur and Virugambakkam too are seeking our guidance in holding such protests. We were able to get quick attention due to the novelty of our method.”
Another novel protest, still vivid in the memory of Avadi residents, is of people planting saplings on the slushy roads of Pattabiram.
Risky for elders
S. Suganthi of Pattabiram Women Entrepreneurs Welfare Association recalled that many roads such as Devar Street Extension were slushy and risky for elderly people.
“School children used to carry water to wash their shoes after crossing the stretch. A casual remark by a friend inspired us to plant saplings to indicate that the unpaved road was fit enough for harvest. Within an hour, materials were brought to pave the road. Even now, our 10 streets are the only blacktopped stretches in the neighbourhood. Residents of Vallalar Nagar too are requesting us to help them with similar protests,” she said
Novel procession
Instead of submitting a petition or shouting slogans to have a Tasmac shop on CTH Road removed, residents of Avadi drafted an application and took it as a procession to a nearby temple and also broke eggs near the shop.
“The shop located close to a temple and residential area was removed within a week. We will continue to hold such protests that reach the authorities concerned faster,” said B. Pushpavalli of Babu Nagar, Avadi.
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In north Chennai, a banner throwing light on a sewage problem greeted people visiting Satyamurthi Nagar, Vyasarpadi in 2012.
While it helped in finding a solution then, the area continues to grapple with sewage woes. P. Ramesh, a resident of Satyamurthi Nagar, said, “It had an immense impact. But, we are still waiting for a permanent solution to replace the 40-year-old sewer lines that cause frequent blocks.”
Encouraged by the success of resident groups, their neighbours are planning the same