The Chennai Corporation has brought in a ‘self sufficiency’ scheme to improve basic infrastructure in the city with the residents’ participation and cooperation, but a majority of the residents are far from pleased.
The self sufficiency scheme involves the residents chipping one third of the money in, while the rest will be put up by the civic body to complete infrastructure projects. Works like laying of cement roads, building of ration shops, noon meal centres, community centres, libraries and compound walls for schools among others will come under the scheme.
A total Rs 10.37 crore has been allocated for this scheme, while the residents were expected to fork up the remaining Rs 5.2 crore, according to a press release by the Corporation. Corporation Commissioner appealed to the residents to visit their respective zonal offices to solve the basic problems in their areas under this scheme.
Residents, however, are an irate lot. Residents pointed out that they were already paying taxes and that this would be an additional burden on them. “Besides, things like ration shops and noon meal centres are frequented from those in the lower middle class and below. Where would they go for the money for construction?,” asked Jayanthi, a homemaker.
“We pay road tax, water tax and what not? They can’t ask the residents chip in money for what is supposed to be their basic duty,” Jayanthi added. Govindaraj, joint secretary of Exnora International pointed out that amenities such as community halls could come under the scheme because they were not based on need. “Residents can manage without them, it is not a necessity,” he said, but added that the scheme would not be applicable to other amenities such as concrete roads, ration shops and noon meal centres. “They are needed by the residents and the Corporation cannot make the residents contribute towards this kind of infrastructure development,” said Govindaraj.