An outstanding transformation from a slum area to middle class Heaven in 20 years time.

It is a standing example of the resilence, perseverance and cooperative achievement of residents,individuals and NGO’s. This achievement is an outstanding, one considering the fact that no political backing or pumping of funds has taken place.

This is story of the cooperation of youth of the area, residents steered and coordinated by individual and assistance from Rotary Club,AIMO and ExNoRa Club.

BACKGROUND:

In Nehru Nagar Plots were allotted by slum clearance board to landless individuals consisting of workers,daily wage earners etc., during early eighties when housing board started developing AnnaNagar for LIG, MIG and HIG group people, Nehru Nagar consisted very small plots of 100/200/400 sq.fts areas allotted to 250.

Till late nineties Nehru Nagar was not having any sort of infrastructure like road or drainage or water or electricity or street light etc., which is a common feature found in all slum areas. There was a small Elliaranman Temple belonging to Nehru Nagar area before the development of Anna Nagar.

Towards the end of  eighties Anna Nagar started developing and new houses started coming on the plots of 13th Main road, opposite of Nehru Nagar.

THE RAISE OF YOUTH POWER AND INSPIRATION FROM MOVIE

As common to every locality, there was mandrams for film actor like Rajini Mandram and Kamal Hassan Mandram etc., Youth in the Nehru Nagar

THE RAISE OF YOUTH POWER AND INSPIRATION FROM MOVIE

As common to every  locality, there was mandrams for film actor like Rajini Mandram and Kamal Hassan Mandram etc.. Youth in the Nehru Nagar where involved in the Mandrams’ activities like putting banners and celebrations of opening day of movies of their heros etc.,

Some of the youth who have been seen the movie “Unnal Mudiyum Thambi” were influenced by the theme and started forming the association of Nehru Nagar Youth Association. It was inaugurated by then MLA Thiru.W.R.Varadharajan belonging to Marxist Community of that time in 1989. They have the goal of achieving water, draining and electricity facilities to their area besides getting pattas for their land and to harness the power of youth for betterment through education and games.

The Initial office beares were Thiru.srinivasan,Thiru. Delli, Thriu. Babu, Thiru.Sivakumar, Thiru. Rajendran etc.,

 

THE INVOLVEMENT OF ROTARY CLUB & ExNoRa CLUB

The youth association approached Mr.S.V.Ravi, the resident of the plot no. 2110 – A,13th Main Road,Anna Nagar, Opposite to Nehru Nagar for helping their activities. Mr.S.V.Ravi being the community service Director of Rotary Club of Esplanade and secretary of 13th Main Road, Civic ExNoRa Club and Past Chairman of AIMO (All India Manufacturers’ Organisation) came forward to help the Nehru Nagar youth Association by involving all the three organization like Rotary, ExNoRa & AIMO.

He also motivated and assisted the Nehru Nagar residents association to develop the Elliamman temple activities so that involvement of not only youth and adults also achieved and involved Rotary club of esplanade, ExNoRa, AIMO for the development of the area with the timely guidance and encouragement.

THE ACHIEVEMENT OF NEHRU NAGAR YOUTH ASSOCIATION WITH HELP OF ABOVE NGO”S

1. Dispersing loan for self employment to 1-5 youths at concessional interest in the areas of  photography, tyre retreading, book binding, electrical work, plumbing work etc.,
2. Sewing machines donated for woman for self-employment and training them in the stitching of garments.
3. Donation of 3 wheeler vehicle for garbage collection in all the 5 lanes of Nehru Nagar and 13th main road opposite to Nehru Nagar.
4. Donation of waste paper basket to each house in Nehru Nagar and training them for maintaining clean environment.
5. Tree Planting on the road side and in the corner of the street lanes and adjacent 13th Main road.
6. Vocational instruments was given free cost for the trained electrician, plumbers and other self employable youths of the area.
7. Free spoken English classes to the youths and students of Nehru Nagar by appointing a teacher.
8. Sponsoring candidates to typing institute .
9. Establishing a free library with vernacular language newspaper and magazine.
10. Running medical camps for general checkup, eye check up, skin check up,etc., periodically.
11. 100% drainage, light,road facilities for all the 5 streets of Nehru Nagar.
12. Constructing compound wall to the small temples in the Nehru Nagar and estabilishing regular pooja in the temple.
13. Donating warm clothes kit received from Australia to the elderly persons of Nehru Nagar.
14. Involving and exposing the Nehru Nagar youth to RCC (Rotary Committee Corps) meeting held at Kumbakonam and leading hotels in Chennai once in  every year.
15. During Pongal time conducting Kolam competition for women and games for children of various age group and singing competition for youths and distriduting prizes.
    
16. Encouraging Tenth and plus two students be given them special prizes for every year for getting good marks.
    
17. Polio drops – medical camps were organized.
    
18. Appraising and honoring the corporation employees and Madras Water & drainage employees who have taken interest in providing all the facilities to Nehru Nagar area.

Analysis & Conclusion:

All these achievement of the transformation of Nehru Nagr from a slum of good residential colony is due to the team work of youth, residents and NGOs. Today like what witnessed in movies, in real life some of the youths of Nehru Nagar turned their huts which were in unhygienic condition to a concrete residences and few of them owing two wheelers and even car because of their hard work and co operation. The progress in their career and small self employment ventures were due to confident & contacts developed by some of the youths of 1989 with NGOs. Today their sons and daughters are getting education in Paramedical,  Biomedical, Engineerig and Accountancy. This is remarkable considering the fact that the youths of 1989 Nehru Nagar were not that much qualified and many of them were school drop outs.

The biggest achievement of Nehru Nagar is the unity maintained by the youth over the two decades even through they belong to different political parties and divided by caste and religion. Till today they continue to work together for common cause of the welfare of everyone.

Celebration of Pongal function in Nehru Nagar:

Nehru Nagar youth association is celebrating Pongal every year on a grand scale from 1989 onwards as an occasion of unity and involvement of all the 300 families consisting of more than 1200 persons inclusive of man, woman, youth and children. It is a two day celebration. On the first day from 8 AM to evening 5 PM, we conducted Kolam competition for women and sports for young children from the age group 6 to 15 and singing competition for the age group 8 to 15. They also involve children and age group of 1 to 5 by making them to tell stories or sing a song.

Next day there is quiz competition for the age group 10 – 15 and recitation of Thirukural (age group – 15 ). Then there is entertainment program of dance performance based on traditional village songs and movie songs at 7.30 PM with the prize distribution function followed by the entertainment program.

This year the Chief Guest is Mr.Satish Kumar ,Managing Director of Henkel India Limited along with S.V.Ravi,CEO of Techel Learn.