‘Living on pavement for generations’: 100+ families seek houses in Chennai, hold stir

CHENNAI: Over 100 homeless families staged a protest at Rasappa Street near Wall Tax Road, close to Chennai Central, on Friday, urging the state administration to provide them permanent houses before the northeast monsoon.

Key points

• The protesters have additionally petitioned Housing and Urban Development Minister B Rajakumar on this matter.
• During the DMK administration, some homeless families from the locality were allotted tenements under TNUHDB at Stanley.
• After a protest in February, the office-holders from GCC and TNUHDB jointly collected petitions and identity documents from the families.
• For so plenty of years, we have remained on the pavements, getting dried up in the sun and drenched in the rain.
• She remarked most residents are daily wagers and their children study in nearby GCC schools.

During the DMK administration, some homeless families from the locality were allotted tenements under TNUHDB at Stanley. But, almost 120 families were left out, they alleged.

After a protest in February, the office-holders from GCC and TNUHDB jointly collected petitions and identity documents from the families. Though authorities assured them that steps would be taken to provide housing, the families alleged that there had been no progress.

"For so plenty of years, we have remained on the pavements, getting dried up in the sun and drenched in the rain. Do our kids have to go through the same hardship again?" asked Sushmitha K (32), a protester.

She remarked most residents are daily wagers and their children study in nearby GCC schools. The families depend on public toilets. It open at 4 am and remain accessible only until 9 pm. Those who want to employ a restroom at night have to walk almost 3 km to Central railway station, she noted, adding that attempts to rent houses often failed as house owners refused to accommodate them.

For context, the protesters have additionally petitioned Housing and Urban Development Minister B Rajakumar on this matter. They pressed chief minister to intervene and ensure housing.

In short, 'Living on pavement for generations': 100+ families seek houses in Chennai, hold is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.