THOOTHUKUDI: A group of people with visual impairment have decided to name their residential area after the outgoing district collector, Dr K Senthil Raj, as a mark of respect for his continuous efforts to empower them. In August 2022, Minister Geetha Jeevan and Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi had recently distributed free land pattas to 27 men and 25 women attached to the Ulagin Oli Visually Impaired Trust.
The plots of land provided to them are located at Lingampatti village and measure three cents each. Senthil Raj played a vital role in identifying the areas and allotting free pattas. The district administration is at present constructing a community workplace measuring up to 2,000 square feet for providing employment opportunities for the disabled people.
Ulagin Oli Trust founder L Mariadoss Lourdhusamy told TNIE that the demand for free land pattas was pending for four years. "The collector made serious efforts to accomplish our dreams within three months after we petitioned him last year. In order to extend our gratitude, we decided to name the area as Dr Senthil Nagar Parvai Atror Kudiyiruppu," he said, adding that industrialists in the region should provide them job opportunities.
Speaking to TNIE, Seethalakshmi (45), a woman with visual impairment, said the free land would help reduce their family's financial burden. She and her husband, who is also visually impaired, want to knit chairs and cots to eke out a living.
"The government's pension of Rs 1,500 is the only source of income now. We cannot arrange a huge sum of money to construct a house," she added. "We are looking for donations to construct houses on the patta lands, said another person." Collector Senthil Raj was recently transferred to the cooperatives department.