“ KEEL MADURAI”

The observation visit on slum

V. Jeyashree M. Jegan A. Radha Krishanan M. Ramalingam R. Ramarajan S. Saranya Devi S. Sivamanikandan S. Umawathi R. Vinoth

Date: 24/9/2010

The Trainees are:

What is slum?

This is the place : these narrow ways, diverging to the right and left, and reeking everywhere with dirt and filth. See how the rotten beams are tumbling down, and how the patched and broken windows seem to scowl dimly, narrow ways, diverging to the right and left…. Where neither rays of light nor breath of air appears to come.

INTRODUCTION to Madurai Slums:

Speaking about the development of Madurai, there are 240 slums in Madurai

A group of trainees from Madurai Institute of Social Sciences has been to the particular slum named “Keel Madurai” nearer to the Kamarajar salai. It is one of the smallest slum in Madurai. 

POPULATION:

• The slum consists of 208 families.

• The people were from two sub-divisions of scheduled caste.

• Thus they formed separate associations and residing over there for the past 75 years.

• Male and Female population in one community is 180 and 197 respectively.

• The another community consists of 255 Males and 264 Females.

• Totally there were 435 Males and 461 Females.

• Even though they were separated by community, occupation, temple etc... , they were residing together in the slum.

STUDENT’S INTERACTING WITH THE COMMUNITY

Facilities provided by the Government:

• They were getting loan for housing.(around Rs.75,000) • There were sufficient water supply.

• Electricity facilities were also good.

• Most of the streets has well-constructed roads and underground drainage facilities.

• Also there were storm water drainage systems.

• There is a corporation health care centre and two corporation schools in the vicinity.

• Most of the children from this slum prefer these schools.

•. There is a Police Out-Post under the control of Theppakulam Station.

• There is a public toilet functioning in the slum

•The slum is located very near to Madurai East Railway Station (Keel Madurai).

• People felt satisfied with these facilities.

1. Most of the people are engaged in daily wage work.

2. Some of the people are engaged in corporation work such as scavenging, sweeping, etc.,

3. Mostly women are working – because of their economic necessity.

4. Men work as cycle - rickshaw pullers, street vendors, etc..,

5. The peoples in the slum are working for their daily needs.

6. Most of the houses are having domestic animals like cow, goat, etc..,

Occupation

Community

SC community people are living in the slum

The two communities are living in clusters - separately

Each caste is having their own temple

There were occasional community clashes between these two communities

Education

1. The awareness for the education is quite satisfied .

2. Majority of the parents are illiterates, but, they wish to educate their children

3. Though they are interested in education, some of them could not get it due to their economic condition.

4. The younger generation feel that education is the only way to get a good position

Problems

Majority of the families do not have ownership title

The houses are in poor condition.

The houses get affected during rainy as well as summer seasons.

H o u s i n g P ro b l e m s

There is one health care centre situated in the slum.

But its having insufficient facilities for treatment.

So the slum people prefer to go to private hospitals.

It leads to economic problem of their family.

Hospital problem

Drainage Problem

The improper drainage facilities leads to overflow of water in the road.

It breeds mosquitoes and causes diseases.

These are the reasons that makes the slum look a filthy and dirty one.

Drainage problem is the most common problem in all slums.

Here too there is improper drainage facilities.

Now only the government building the proper drainage facilities- but it is slow in progress.

Road Problems

The condition of roads and streets are poor. It causes a lot of problem for the children, elderly and handicapped

Water Problem

o Though, some of the houses are having tap connections, they are not allowing others to share water.

o There is one public water fountain for each street, but it seems to be insufficient due to over population

Electricity settings

• Some of the houses are not having electric connection

• The improper maintenance of electric wires seems to be a major threat to the safety of the residents.

Electoral Rights

† Out of the 2000 people living in the slum only 97 are having voting rights

† Most of them are not having ration card too.

Note:

The above information are collected from the “KEEL MADURAI” slum people.

Conclusion

The people in the slum are most suffering people. Because they are suffer from different problems in their daily activities.

Slums are marginalized from the city because of their occupation, community way of living and so on.

The government should more focused on the development of the slums and the NGOs also help to make their life better.

Lots of awareness program should conduct on the basics of education, rights of the people and so on. Like this awareness program will achieve some changes in the slum people.

The economic problem is the main one for every human being. Like this problem leads to poverty- these leads the economically poor people to theft, murdering for money .

Slum is the place where there is a possible for emerging many criminals. to prevent like this situation the government and mainly the social workers should take various measures.

The trainees with slum people...

The trainees Interacting with the slum people.

Saranya Devi S. Radhakrishnan A

Ramalingam M.

Jegan M.

Vinoth R.

Siva Manikandan S.

Ramarajan R. Umawathi S.

Jeyashree V.

Thank You…

Umawathi S.

Ramarajan R.

Siva manikandan S.

Saranya Devi S.

Radhakrishnan A

Ramalingam M.

Vinoth R.

Jegan M.

Jeyashree V.