The Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board will be setting up de-addiction centres in all the resettlement colonies as part of the move to eliminate drug menace and counselling centres to solve family disputes. However residents want security measures in place first.
There have been constant complaints about drug menace from residents of different colonies including Perumbakkam, Kannagi Nagar, Gudaakkam, Athipattu and Navalur. The TNSCB will be forming vigil groups comprising women and teenagers to identify sellers and sources of drugs.
“They will pass on information about youngsters addicted to drugs and the list will be provided to staff at de-addiction centres. We have to first cut demand,” said a TNSCB official.
The children will be provided necessary counselling and follow up will be conducted to ensure they don’t succumb to the habit again. “We will enrol them in sports and help them channelise their energy. We will soon be conducting a summer sports festival in Perumbakkam and Navalur. It will be replicated in other colonies later. We will rope in umpires from SDAT for the event,” added the official.
Besides the TNSCB will be writing to the Social Welfare Department to help set up permanent counselling centres to resolve family disputes. “We already held mother-in-law and daughter-in-law weeks, during which women were provided counselling and many of the disputes and misunderstandings were solved,” the official explained.
Security measures
However residents feel that the proposed facilities will be of help only if sale of drugs and alcohol is permanently stopped in the colonies. “There is an urgent need to install CCTV cameras everywhere, increase patrolling and lighting facilities in all the colonies. This will deter persons selling and buying drugs,” said Kalpana, a resident of Athipattu. A senior TNSCB official said that the colonies will be well illuminated soon. “The police have identified spots where CCTV cameras can be fitted. We will be installing them soon,” added the official.