RG Anand, a member of the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had visited the Perumbakkam resettlement site last year, following a complaint by a policy researcher, Vanessa Peter, from the Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities (IRCDUC). The complaint was aimed to seek redressal for the violation of rights of children due to the forced eviction carried out under the Integrated Cooum River Eco-Restoration Plan (ICREP). 

The complaint by Peter had pointed out that the resettlement site of Perumbakkam (where these families have been relocated) is located almost 22 kilometres away from their original place of habitation and the availability of schools in the resettlement site that houses nearly 14,000 families is grossly inadequate. There is only one primary school and a higher secondary school for nearly 16,000 children in the resettlement site of Perumbakkam. The primary school continues to function in a tenement constructed for residential purposes. The children, even after relocation, continue to go to their schools near their original sites of habitation, commuting a daily distance of 44 kilometres because of the non-availability of schools with English as their medium of instruction near the resettlement site. Evictions were carried out in mid-academic year. This contributes to a gross violation of children’s Fundamental Right to education and of the Right to Education Act, said the complaint.

Peter told DT Next, the response would make a lot of difference to lives of the children in the locality, even as various stakeholders have begun to make arrangements to meet the infrastructure deficit. “We have been informed that buses have been arranged to transport children to their schools, while the primary school is going to be shifted to another permanent structure out of the tenement structure. There are also special classes being conducted by the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board for students due to appear for board exams this year.

She added, “The government should begin an assessment to figure out the needs of children.” She pointed out that an Urban Housing and Habitat Policy was being planned and it should also address a housing policy that is child friendly and gender sensitive.

Anand told DT Next that the recommendations are being studied by the WCD and suitable action will be taken, mostly by end of week. “The cabinet meeting is underway, and we are hoping for response soon,” he added. Upon inspection in December 2018, a few recommendations were made by the NCPCR member Nationalised school in the locality, as there was just one higher secondary school for 16,000 children and also have alerted the local police to take more care of the safety.

Recommendations on construction of hospital as there is only one clinic with three rooms for 5400 people was also given. Norms such as availability of a nurse and two doctors for each primary health centre are not followed here.