The Hindu 07.05.2013
More than 11,000 homeless in Chennai
The Chennai Corporation has identified 2,586 homeless
families in Chennai district. The total number of homeless persons in
the district is 11,116.
According to a new survey to
be submitted to the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board by the Chennai
Corporation, the largest number of homeless people in the city is on NSC
Bose Road. As many as 1,864 families live in the 29 streets around NSC
Bose Road.
The expanded city, covering districts of
Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram in addition to Chennai district, has an
estimated 15,000 homeless persons. Some labourers who cannot afford to
pay rent have also begun living on the footpaths in the city.
“Until
three months ago, I lived in rented accommodation in Kallarai near
Central, paying a monthly rent of Rs. 3,000. When I found it difficult
to continue paying rent, I moved out and started living on the streets,”
said Sasikala who sleeps on Mint Street with her husband and their five
children.
She earns Rs. 100 a day making flower
garlands. Her husband is a daily wage labourer. “I am ready to live
wherever the government allots us a house,” she said.
Most
of the homeless residents have voter IDs but no ration cards. Pushpa
Saravanan said her family was shifted to civic body-run schools during
the rains. She is one among the hundreds of homeless women who take
shelter outside shops at night. “I do not enjoy the benefits of the
government’s welfare schemes,” said Pushpa.
“We have
apportioned the space on the pavement. Every night, we wait for the
shops to shut before retiring for the night on the pavement outside,”
said Sakunthala, a 53-year-old woman.
Some of them
have recently started living in rented houses in suburban areas such as
Vanagaram. But unable to pay rent, they will return to the pavements
after a few months, said Sakunthala.
