CHENNAI: Over 100 homeless families staged a protest at Rasappa Street near Wall Tax Road, close to Chennai Central, on Friday, urging the state government to provide them permanent houses before the northeast monsoon. The families said they had been living on pavements for nearly five generations and that repeated petitions seeking housing had failed. They said living on the roadside exposed them to the risk of road accidents, child kidnapping, and sexual harassment, among other concerns.
During the DMK government, some homeless families from the locality were allotted tenements under TNUHDB at Stanley. But, nearly 120 families were left out, they alleged.
Following a protest in February, the officials from GCC and TNUHDB jointly collected petitions and identity documents from the families. Though officials assured them that steps would be taken to provide housing, the families alleged that there had been no progress.
“For so many 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 said most residents are daily wagers and their children study in nearby GCC schools. The families depend on public toilets, which open at 4 am and remain accessible only until 9 pm. Those who want to use a restroom at night have to walk nearly 3 km to Central railway station, she said, adding that attempts to rent houses often failed as house owners refused to accommodate them.
The protesters have also petitioned Housing and Urban Development Minister B Rajakumar on this matter. They urged chief minister to intervene and ensure housing.