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Community Development

Community centre inaugurated

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The Hindu    28.07.2012

Community centre inaugurated

Special Correspondent

A community centre constructed at a cost of Rs.30 lakh by Tiruchi Corporation at Sanjeevi Nagar in the city was declared open by N.R.Sivapathi, Minister for School Education, Youth Welfare and Sports, here on Friday.

The community hall was constructed with funding to the tune of Rs.19.06 lakhs from the Swarna Jayanthi Sahari Rozgar Yojana. The Corporation has contributed Rs.10.94 lakhs from its general funds.

Uniforms distributed

He also distributed uniforms to 1,724 sanitary workers on the occasion. Protective gear worth Rs.18 lakhs would be distributed to the sanitary workers in the city, he said. The Corporation has also commenced desilting works on the drainage channels in the city.

Jayashree Muralidharan, Collector, P.Kumar, MP, R.Manoharan, M.Paranjothi and R.Chandrasekar, MLAs, A.Jaya, Mayor, and V.P.Thandapani, Corporation Commissioner, were present on the occasion.
Last Updated on Saturday, 28 July 2012 05:45
 

Night shelters slowly gaining occupants

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The Hindu       27.06.2011

Night shelters slowly gaining occupants

K. Lakshmi

G. Angammal (65) does not have to worry about a safe place to retire during nights anymore. Many homeless persons like her have found accommodation in night shelters run by the Chennai Corporation.

“I came to Chennai from Kancheepuram a year ago as my sons deserted me. I wandered on streets and started sleeping on pavements of Thattankulam. I spend my day in the neighbouring park and temples. I get some money through begging and people in the area sometimes buy me food,” she said.

She visited the night shelter at Thattankulam along with Mariam (70) who suffered similar plight. “I used to be worried about dogs and had to rush for cover when it rained. I am now assured of a place to sleep and a meal,” said Mariam.

The shelter in Thattankulam was one of the first night shelters to be opened about six months ago. It is now home to 40 persons.

Many of the facilities are functioning in the unused buildings and schools. The civic body is running six shelters in localities, including Kodungaiyur, Koyambedu and Vallal Seethakadi Nagar.

The recently opened facility at Cox Colony, Chintadripet, is used by only a few persons. V. Ethiraj (72), who uses the facility, said “I was an iron merchant. I could not afford to pay rent then. I took to beggary few years ago. I would stay here during the day time if the shelter is left open.”

Many of those who use the night shelters are aged and destitute. They want the civic body to conduct medical camps and provide old age pension as they do not have any other source of income.

At Kannapar Thidal, nearly 100 families shifted from streets near Ripon Building and Periamet have been living without basic amenities. T. Selvam, a resident said “We were shifted here in 2002 by Corporation. But, we still do not have toilet and electricity facilities. Many families continue to live here as their daily earning is only Rs.50.

Chennai Corporation Commissioner D. Karthikeyan said that nearly 11,000 homeless people were mapped in a survey based on which the night shelters were identified.

The shelters have bathing and locker facilities. “We are planning to provide recreation facilities too. A meeting would be convened with NGOs for sustained maintenance of the shelters,” he said. The civic body is set to open six more shelters soon.

Mayor M. Subramanian said the visitors to the shelters are being provided with identity cards. “We will take measures to admit aged destitute people in old age homes if they are interested. A camp would also be organised to get them old age pension,” he said.

The Corporation is also running a night shelter for street children in Kodungaiyur, he added.

Civic body set to open six more shelters soon

 

Corporation to rehabilitate persons with leprosy

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The Hindu      02.02.2011

Corporation to rehabilitate persons with leprosy

Karthik Madhavan

The Coimbatore Corporation is looking to rehabilitate four persons with leprosy, whom it rescued from the streets of Coimbatore during the recent anti-beggary drive.

Sent back

Of the 140 people the Corporation picked up from the streets of Coimbatore, it had sent 21 people to various non-government organisations. It also managed to send back 72 persons to their families, after members vouched to take care of them. Four persons who were sick died and two children were handed over to Don Bosco Anbu Illam.

The remaining 41 are with the Corporation, including the four leprosy-affected persons. Their presence at the civic body's night shelter is being resisted by other residents. They refuse to have food with the four or even interact with them.

The Corporation is finding it difficult to find a home for the people, the sources say.

Assistant City Health Officer P. Aruna says the Corporation will initiate efforts to provide medical assistance to the affected people, who are not newly infected.

They are old cases and there is no new infection in the night shelter. The Corporation's Health Wing is monitoring the situation at the home.

Treatment

Commissioner Anshul Mishra says the Corporation will send the four people to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Even as they undergo treatment, the civic body will talk to NGOs working in the area to see if they can be accommodated. If not, it is ready take care of the people and the night shelter has enough facilities to provide them care.

There are separate rooms, where they will be treated, he says and adds that the civic body is also not averse to opening a separate home for persons affected with leprosy.

Mr. Mishra also says that the civic body will also look at sending these people to a suitable government facility, even if it is outside Coimbatore.


  • They were rescued during an anti-beggary drive
  • Corporation Health Wing monitoring situation
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