81 per cent of destitute people in Chennai homeless for generations
CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), in collaboration with the Madras School of Social Work, recently released the final report of a city-wide homelessness survey titled 'Data for Dignity'.
While the survey identified around 13,529 homeless individuals across 2,837 locations in Chennai, the report recommends strengthening housing policies, enhancing social protection systems, addressing structural discrimination, and fostering community engagement.
The report, calling for coordinated inter-departmental action, was handed over to chief secretary N Muruganandam and officials from at least seven departments, including GCC, and TNUHDB, on May 29.
According to the report, of the total homeless population, around 51% that is 2,482 were part of family units. Moreover, a significant 80.66% of homeless population are generationally homeless noting they never had stable access to housing.
The report recommended government departments to invest in permanent housing within 2-3 km of their current locations, especially for families, who as per current practice often separated in gender-specific shelters.
With 58.26% of homeless families have children under 18 years, 25.89% have two children and 19.34% have one child, 5.1% (164) of them reported that their children had dropped out of school. While dropout rates are relatively low, continued monitoring and educational support remain critical, the report said. Common reasons cited for dropout was poverty, lack of interest, and inability to cope.
Only 10.78% of the children reached Class 11-12, and a mere 4.89% pursued college education.
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New Indian Express
8 hours ago
- New Indian Express
81 per cent of destitute people in Chennai homeless for generations
CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), in collaboration with the Madras School of Social Work, recently released the final report of a city-wide homelessness survey titled 'Data for Dignity'. While the survey identified around 13,529 homeless individuals across 2,837 locations in Chennai, the report recommends strengthening housing policies, enhancing social protection systems, addressing structural discrimination, and fostering community engagement. The report, calling for coordinated inter-departmental action, was handed over to chief secretary N Muruganandam and officials from at least seven departments, including GCC, and TNUHDB, on May 29. According to the report, of the total homeless population, around 51% that is 2,482 were part of family units. Moreover, a significant 80.66% of homeless population are generationally homeless noting they never had stable access to housing. The report recommended government departments to invest in permanent housing within 2-3 km of their current locations, especially for families, who as per current practice often separated in gender-specific shelters. With 58.26% of homeless families have children under 18 years, 25.89% have two children and 19.34% have one child, 5.1% (164) of them reported that their children had dropped out of school. While dropout rates are relatively low, continued monitoring and educational support remain critical, the report said. Common reasons cited for dropout was poverty, lack of interest, and inability to cope. Only 10.78% of the children reached Class 11-12, and a mere 4.89% pursued college education.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Residents welcome Corpn. move to revamp Otteri Nullah, demand steps to remove encroachments
Many people living near Otteri Nullah face a crisis everyday. As untreated sewage and garbage accumulate in the waterbody, residents find the air becoming increasingly toxic by the day. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has rolled out a ₹65-crore plan to desilt and raise the walls of the 10.8-km-long Otteri Nullah. The maintenance of the canal was transferred from the Water Resources Department (WRD) to the GCC in October 2024. Meanwhile, residents say that unless the effluent discharge is stopped and encroachments removed, floods will continue to plague the city during monsoon, and health risks abound. Welcoming the GCC project, Sandhya Vedullapallai of the Federation of Anna Nagar Residents' Association said, 'A study to analyse the air quality, as well as measures to curb the release of effluents, such as household sewage and wastewater from factories in Pattaravakkam and Ambattur Industrial Estate, into the waterbody are crucial.' People living close to the canal need to replace their air conditioners every three months as the air is toxic, she added. According to her, dredging and rejuvenation alone will not fully prevent inundation in Anna Nagar and Perambur, and flood diversions have been planned to address this. Surplus water 'Flooding is mainly because of surplus water received by Otteri Nullah from Ayapakkam, Ambattur, Kolathur, and Villivakkam lakes during the monsoon. This leads to backflow of water from the Buckingham Canal, which in turn results in overflow from the canal,' Ms. Vedullapalli further said. According to J.M.S. Nagarajan of the Alliance of Residents' Welfare Associations and Anna Nagar Western Extension Association, a Madras High Court ruling had directed the Corporation Commissioner to look for encroachments adjacent to the Otteri Nullah, and remove them. 'But this exercise is yet to be undertaken. Encroachments and the dumping of garbage reduce the width of the Nullah considerably,' he added. Detailed Project Report The GCC's project is planned to be taken up in Royapuram, Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar, and Anna Nagar Zones (V, VI and VIII) from near Padi Flyover to Buckingham Canal. The DPR proposed bridge and infrastructure improvements, canal maintenance and desilting, pollution control, prevention of encroachments, and the creation of a blue-green corridor. 'Bathymetry and drone LiDAR surveys have been conducted for topographical and hydraulic assessment. The tender for this project is expected to be finalised on July 7. Work will begin after this. Roughly ₹5 crore is allocated for cleaning waste and desilting alone. The project includes the removal of 2.95 lakh cubic metres of sludge, plastic waste, and weeds, using machines that can dig up to 8 metres,' an official in the Storm Water Drain Department of the Chennai Corporation said. 'Bathymetry and drone LiDAR surveys have been conducted for topographical and hydraulic assessment. The tender for this project is expected to be finalised on July 7. Work will begin after this. Roughly ₹5 crore is allocated only for cleaning waste and desilting. The project includes the removal of 2.95 lakh cubic metres of sludge, plastic waste, and weeds using machines that can dig up to 8 metres,' said an official in the Storm Water Drain Department of the Chennai Corporation. Otteri Nullah GCC overview Canal Name: Otteri Nullah Length: 10.8 km Longest drainage channel with multiple connecting drains, prone to encroachments. The Otteri Nullah begins at the 100 Feet Road near Anna Nagar 18th Street and flows through Anna Nagar, RV Nagar, VOC Nagar, Kilpauk Garden, Kellys, Perambur, and Kannigapuram, before discharging into the North Buckingham Canal near Basin Bridge The maximum depth of Otteri Nullah is 2.5 metres, according to Greater Chennai Corporation' DPR. It carries a flood discharge of 3,600 cusecs as per WRD records. The canal intersects with 32 cross culverts and has 27 existing bridges, of which seven are identified as major bottlenecks. Flooding issues in Chennai's Urban Drainage system GCC noted that there is an increasing frequency of urban flooding as experienced in 1943, 1976, 1985, 2005, 2015, 2017, 2021, and 2023 due to heavy rainfall and cyclonic activity. Hotspots After recurrent floods during the North-East Monsoon in 2017, 2021 and 2023, six flooding hotspots were identified along the canal: from Thirumangalam Road Bridge to GCC Park; along Anna Nagar 6th Avenue Road; near the K4 Police Station Bridge; in tree-lined street flanks; across the Avadi Road Bridge near a collection pond; and areas adjacent to SPR City and other high-rise developments, GCC's Detailed Project Report (DPR) stated.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- The Hindu
Chennai: Pothole-ridden road in Anna Nagar raises traffic concerns
Commuters using the 13th Main Road at Anna Nagar in Chennai have raised concerns over the deteriorating condition of the stretch, which has become riddled with potholes and uneven patches. The situation has worsened in the recent weeks due to intermittent evening rains, leading to slippery surfaces that pose a risk to motorists, especially two-wheeler riders. The stretch connecting 2nd Avenue with 4th Avenue (Shanthi Colony), both arterial roads of Anna Nagar, has been a key route for vehicles diverted from the Thirumangalam junction following the commencement of Phase II of the Chennai Metro Rail project. Traffic from Ambattur and Mogappair heading towards Koyambedu is rerouted through the 15th Main Road and then onto 13th Main Road, resulting in a sharp spike in vehicular flow, particularly during morning and evening peak hours. Residents say that both roads were dug up for utility works a few weeks ago, but were never properly re-laid. 'Temporary fillings using loose materials have since eroded, leaving the surface bumpy and unsafe. The surface is extremely uneven. At nights, it becomes a nightmare to drive, especially on two-wheelers,' says S. Meera, a resident. Flanked by residential apartments, shops, banks, and other commercial establishments, the stretch has become heavily congested. 'Driving down the stretch is a test of patience. The intermittent evening showers cause water logging along the stretch and the traffic slows to a crawl,' says R. Nagarajan, a daily commuter. Residents and shopkeepers also highlighted the issue of encroachments, including unregulated parking and building materials piling up along the road, which further reduce space for vehicles and pedestrians. While they acknowledge that Greater Chennai Corporation has initiated pavement works for the benefit of pedestrians, they want stronger enforcement to prevent roadside dumping and unregulated parking. According to sources in the civic body, relaying work has begun, starting from the other end of the 13th Main Road. The remaining stretch will also be taken up soon, they added.
