This summer, two residents’ associations in Chennai have decided to get the children in their localities introduced to the nitty-gritty of neighbourhood management. Towards this end, they have lined up a series of workshops for the month of May.
The associations in question — Sri Kapaleeswarar Nagar Residents Welfare Association, Sri Kapaleeswarar Nagar, Neelankarai, East Coast Road and Virugambakkam Residents’ Welfare Association in Virugambakkam —are planning to offer children a primer on how government agencies connected with civic governance function.
The children will get to understand the roles and functions of Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), Public Works Department (PWD), Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) and a few other government departments.
The salient features of the Right to Information Act will be taught to the children.
Besides, the associations are planning to get the children acquainted with issues pertaining to the neighbourhoods.
About civic agencies
“Children aged 10 and above can take part in these workshops. We will also be teaching them the importance of growing trees and saving rainwater. As our colony is located in a coastal region, we will help them understand seawater ingression.
They will also learn about the basic guidelines relating to Coastal Regulation Zone and also about the Tamil Nadu Combined Development & Building Rules. As such civic concepts are not taught at schools, a residents’ association should take up that work. By doing so, we will be creating a leadership pipeline in the neighbourhood,” says Siva Kumar Muthulingam, president of the Association. The Association can be reached at 93807 30379 or knresidentsassociation@gmail.com.
The hyperlocal context
“We will be conducting a workshops for children aged 12 and above — one on solid waste management and another on road safety. Any workshop we conduct will be highly localised: To give a few examples, while discussing solid waste management, we will be presenting the Koyambedu market as a case study. Similarly, while discussing road safety, the subject will be presented in the context of traffic situation on roads like Kaliamman Kovil Street. The children will also learn about the significance of the Virugambakkam-Arumbakkam Canal,” ” says S. Arumainathan, president of the association.
The association can be reached at 94441 40015.
