The Chitlapakkam Muthulakshmi Nagar Welfare Association (CMNWA) was started in 1990 and that was timely. In the 1990s, Chitlapakkam witnessed intense development, which gave rise to a host of problems such as water scarcity, non-functioning street-lights and bad roads. The Association solved the problems effectively with teamwork.
“The Association fitted more than 50 street lamp posts on rooftop homes. The lamp posts were taken later by the Chitlapakkam Town Panchayat. Apart from that, the Forum played a key role in laying a link road between Pugazhendi Street, and Saradambal Street by purchasing a piece of land and handing it over to the panchayat,” L. Sundararaman, president, CMNWA, said.
When it comes to issues affecting the public, the Association has never been on the back foot: One such issue was the commercialisation of groundwater, the Federation joined hands with the public and put an end to illegal drawing of water from a community well in the locality, he pointed out. The Association’s jurisdiction spreads over 21 streets. V. Ramajayam and V. L. Narasimhan are the vice-presidents, V. Venkatraman, secretary, C. S. Venkatesh, treasurer and R. M. Eashwaran, assistant treasurer. T. S. Kannan, Susheela Raghavan and S. Uma are the committee members. The Association is a member of ‘Chitlapakkam Lake Preservation Committee’, and has contributed funds from the members towards preserving the water body. “The slush in the lake area should be removed, and the lake should be de-silted and deepened for effective recharge of ground water,” V. L. Narasimhan said.
The forum has also made contributions towards Prime Minister Kargil War Relief Fund, Gujarat Earthquake Relief Fund, Orissa Floods Relief Fund, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Tsunami Relief Fund, Thane Cyclone Relief Fund and Uttarakhand Flood Relief Fund. The Association has provided life insurance cover to its members through Janata Personal Accident Policy. The Association’s Magalir Mandram honours standard X and XII board examination toppers by awarding them cash prizes, mementos and books. The Forum conducts sports day and cultural programmes, celebrates Independence Day, Republic Day and conducts summer camp in yoga, personality development, and handicrafts. The Association has also honoured the staff of emergency utility services like Electricity Board and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board and Postal Service in recognition of their services. As part of the celebrations marking Swami Vivekananda’s 150 birth anniversary, the forum conducted quiz and essay competitions. Due to its intervention, a park has been developed by the Chitlapakkam town panchayat in Muthulakshmi Nagar. Another notable feature is introduction of share-autos in Chitlapakkam. “We want the MTC to ply bus services from Chitlapakkam bus terminus to Medavakkam and Madambakkam through Tambaram Sanatorium railway station. The underground drainage system should be implemented in Chitlapakkam and the Chennai Water Scheme, which has been planned for a few areas, including Pammal, Pozhichalur, Pallavaram and Chromepet, should be extended to Chitlapakkam,” Association members said. The Association believes in team work will celebrate its silver jubilee next year.
(At Downtown Cares, resident welfare associations can discuss their neighbourhoods. These associations can write to us at downtownfeedback@thehindu.co.in or call us at 28576631, seeking a meeting)
