Resettled people in Gudapakkam, near Thirumazhisai, raised 24 issues that have been plaguing them ever since they were relocated to the tenements. Lack of transportation facilities, drinking water, damaged ceilings and non-issuance of identity proof were among the many.
The residents submitted a petition to the Madras High Court-appointed Advocate Commissioner K. Elango on Saturday, when he inspected the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board tenements.
“We have been assured that our demands will be met, but let’s see,” said P. Dhanapal, a resident.
He is among the 176 families repatriated from Sri Lanka who were provided houses at the tenements in Gudapakkam by the TNSCB, in March last year. But ever since they moved in, they have been struggling with their daily lives.
“If you look at the roof of our houses, especially the top floor, you will see that it has several cracks. The tanks keep leaking and despite all our complaints, nothing has been done,” he said.
60-year-old M. Alamelu, a former resident of Aminjikarai, who after waiting for an entire year for a home at the tenements, has not been receiving her old age pension. “We don’t have new identity proof to avail them. Most of us are struggling because of this,” she claimed.
Unemployment was another issue raised by the residents. Rajeev Kumar, a former employee in a private firm near Egmore, now struggles to make ends meet for his family of five.
“I lost my job after being moved here. The authorities told us that they would help attach us to a few firms nearby, but they are all looking for employees below 30 years. We are left in the lurch,’ he said.
Officials from the TNSCB said that they have tied up with organisations to provide skill training and employment avenues to residents, which will kickstart in due course of time.