Easy access to providers of essential services is important, especially for senior citizens. Raja Annamalaipuram Residents Association (RAPRA) addressed this need, creating a directory listing phone numbers of plumbers, electricians, masons, cooks, domestic helpers, drivers, painters, PC repairers, gardeners, coconut pluckers, water tank cleaners and others.
“These service providers are needed the most. And we have heard of many cases where anti-social elements posed as these service providers and harmed senior citizens. By creating a directory of such service providers, we can avoid the possibility of impersonators walking into our houses. And we are doing just that for people living in Adyar and Mylapore and surrounding areas. We are creating a digital director for them,” says Dr. H. K. Lakshman Rao, a resident of Krishnapuri, R.A. Puram. All the service providers listed here, along with their contact details, made it through references by the residents themselves.
“If someone has gone in for a professional’s service and is happy with him or her, he can recommend that person for the directory. While including others who don’t come through such references, I will personally interview them to find out if they are genuine,” he adds.
This digital diary is expected to be ready by March 2015. The addresses and contact details of the service providers will be presented in a classified format.
“We need the support of the residents for this project. We request them to share the details of service providers they consider to be excellent and above board.
Residents who wish to have a copy of the directory in a soft format can register by giving their email IDs and mobile numbers. The service providers and users may send the details in the format designed by the team."
To register and get the format, one should write to hklrao@gmail.com before Jan 31.
