CHENNAI: In an attempt to positively engage the youth in two major resettlement sites in South Chennai, Perumbakkam and Ezhil Nagar, the State government has sanctioned Rs 1.5 crore for providing sports facilities. “Two multipurpose play fields and four fitness centres were planned in these two areas where the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board had constructed nearly 32,000 tenements to rehabilitate dwellers from informal settlements across the city,” a senior official from the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) told Express.
Just as any other resettlement site in the city, access to quality health and education has been an area of concern for Perumbakkam and Ezhil Nagar residents. Experts opined that provision of sports facilities was the need of the hour here as the unemployability and school dropout rate was increasing at a disturbing rate. According to results of a recent research study taken up by Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities (IRCDUC) in these areas, 35% of children in the age group of 15-18 were school dropouts and 67% were boys.
Vanessa Peter, a policy researcher from IRCDUC said that many adolescent children who are unable to pursue higher secondary education don’t know what to do in their free time and engaging them in sports proactively is one of the best strategies to mobilise them. During the high-level committee held in connection with post-resettlement infrastructure issues of TNSCB in October 2015, the then chief secretary had instructed the youth welfare and sports development department to provide funds for the creation of sports development activities in all the sites.
Accordingly, a cricket pitch and basketball court were set up in Okkiyam Thoraipakkam and weightlifting, fitness and sports equipment were purchased for Kannagi Nagar, Ezhil Nagar and Perumbakkam residents, said a SDAT official. The official added that as an augmentation, a government order was passed in June sanctioning Rs 1.5 crore for setting up playgrounds with compound walls and gyms at three different locations in the said areas and TNSCB had recently handed over 7,900 square metres of land towards this to SDAT.
It is learnt that the local police boys club is playing a vital role in promoting the sports. “Though a sense of resentment prevailed over police for unfair treatment, the situation has started to change after the club got going,” said TC Karuna, a resident.