These issues, they said, remain unheard despite affecting thousands of families. Chennai: A slogan-led protest on Sunday turned into a public platform for the city’s relocated urban poor to speak about crumbling buildings, drug abuse, unsafe schools, and punishing commutes in their resettlement colonies.
At a gathering organized by anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam under the banner ‘Kelu Chennai Kelu’ (Listen Chennai Listen) at Egmore, more than 500 residents from resettlement colonies such as Perumbakkam, KP Park, Kannagi Nagar, and Vyasarpadi came together to highlight unresolved civic and social issues. Residents from Perumbakkam, which houses 24,000 families, flagged rampant drug abuse and safety concerns. S Jayapriya, 33, an attendee said students had easy access to narcotics. My daughter leaves at 6.30 am and reaches home only by 7pm and its unsafe,” she said. Residents from Kannagi Nagar housing about 23,000 families, complained of poor bus connectivity. only 30 were operated While 65 MTC buses were required.
“Travelling is difficult due to inadequate buses.
Students escape through the compound walls even during class hours,” she said. Owing to the drug problem in Perumbakkam, Jayapriya said she sends her daughter to a govt school in Santhome, from where the family was relocated. “There are four schools, but they are poorly managed.