Urban News

Source : The Hindu Date : 12.06.2009

Corporation plans slum development

Staff Reporter

Photo N. Rajesh

Debate: Chairman of Tirunelveli zone S. Viswanatha Pandian arguing a point with councillor T. S. Murugan at the Tirunelveli corporation council meeting on Thursday.

TIRUNELVELI: The Corporation council has approved the proposal to build 750 new houses for the slum dwellers and renovate 1,253 houses in 69 slums falling within its jurisdiction under the Centre’s Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme at a cost of Rs. 13 crore and strengthen infrastructure facilities on an outlay of nearly Rs. 6.95 crore.

A total of 750 houses in the slums located at Thatchanallur (208 houses), Tirunelveli (323), Palayamkottai (209) and Melapalayam (10) zones will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 8.02 crore while 1,253 houses at Thatchanallur (412 houses), Palayamkottai (506), Melapalayam (113) and Tirunelveli (222) will be upgraded on an outlay of Rs. 5.01 crore.

For the laying of roads, cement roads, drainage channels, installation of streetlights and construction of community halls etc. in the slums, Rs. 6.95 crore will be spent.

The council meeting also resolved to execute two drinking water projects for wards 19, 26 and 27 in Melapalayam Zone and wards 8, 9 and 10, all at a cost of Rs. 22.22 crore, for which the State Government has given administrative sanction.

Alleging that the corporation officials did not respect the councillors, member T.S. Murugan said his repeated plea to construct drainage channel in a particular area was being ignored by them.

Chairman of Tirunelveli Zone, S. Viswanatha Pandian replied the officials had refrained from accepting the councillor’s demand as the residential area had come up on an unapproved layout.

Threat

“If the demand is accepted, the officials concerned will land in trouble,” he said.

However, an infuriated Mr. Murugan shouted that he would immolate himself if the officials continued to ignore his demands, which triggered laughter in the council hall.

Source : The Hindu Date : 08.06.2009

Programme to motivate slum children

— Photo: R. Ashok.

ENCOURAGEMENT: A student interacting with participants at the programme in Tiruchi.

TIRUCHI: A two-day child participation programme to motivate slum children was organised by the Sisters of the Cross Society For Education Development (SOC SEAD), Tiruchi Child Line, here recently.

Inaugurated by the Director, SOC SEAD Sister Maria Kamalam, the first day programme featured talks, screening of short films and games for the participating children.

The programme started with a brief account of the activities of Child Line in helping children, below the age of 18, in distress besides providing emotional support, guidance and shelter to such children.

Advocate S. Martin spoke on Child Rights, while A. Gopinath, a retired Professor spoke about the role of children in societal developmental in future. The second day programme was marked by an interactive session with the participating children. The Tamil teacher of St. Joseph Higher Secondary School, Tiruchi Mr. Pushparaj chaired the session. The event ended with distribution of school uniforms and note books to about 300 participating children.

The Director, Child Line Nodal Organisation Dr. Godwin Prem Singh, Child Line coordinator A. Albert Manoharan and others participated in the function.