These presentations are part of students effort to document their fieldwork observation

1. Melakailasapuram TEAM MEMBERS A.KALAISELVI M.BHUVANESHWARI J.SANGEETHA A.DINESH KUMAR MANIKANDANAN S.TIRUPANDI E.PRABU SANKAR S.F S.PRASANA KUMAR K.BALA MURUGAN Slum Visit

2. Slum A slum is defined as “ foul back-street of a city especially one with a slovenly and often vicious population : a low or squalid neighborhood”. The slum, thus, was considered as a residential area in which housing is so deteriorated, so substandard, so unwholesome that it is a menace to the health, safety, morality or welfare of the occupants. The term slum connotes the worst structural and sanitary conditions and most degraded occupancy, usually by the lowest income groups of any given period.

3. LOCATION Melakailasapuram is located in the vaigai river bank. It is near to Araplayam bus stand. Near to this slum there are many slums like Aruldaspuram, Kellakailasapuram and so on. It is located in the Ththaneri (Corporation Grave yard) main road. Informant –Sri.MeenachiSundram

4. HISTORY The people in this slum have settled here before many generations before. Majority of them are washer men. As the place is very near to Vaigai river they find easy to carry their work.

5. Population Demographic particulars are not readily available There are nearly 200 to 300 houses. In which there live more than 1000 to 1500 people. In that most of them are working people.

6. Livelihood The people of this slum mainly carry out the occupation of washing. They carry on this job for many generations. Women in this slum also go for washing in the houses near by the area.

7. Economic status The people in this area are economically poor. According to their statement they are earning less than Rs.100 per day. Women earn Rs.400 to 500 per month. They are not able to meet their basic needs like shelter, food, clothing.

8. Hospital facility There are no proper hospital facility in this area. Near by this there is an urban health (primary health center) post. Even during emergency the people has to go to government hospital…people consider it as away from their place.

9. Health The people in this place seems to be very anemic. They are often affected by fever malaria, dysentery and other contagious diseases. They health is affected due to improper sanitation. The wine shop in this area is considered to be a big health hazard.

10. Educational status The education facilities are very poor. Those who completed 10th standard are considered as highly educated. Only few had made their higher studies into colleges. Others had taken their family work…i.e. washing cloths.

11. Schooling facility The children in this area make their schooling in near by schools The school has up to 10th standard.

12. Sanitation ..Drainage facility There is no proper drainage facilities. No closed drainages, the ditch water is stagnant before the houses which causes various health problems. It paves way for growth of germs, mosquitoes, which affect the health of the people quickly.

13. Sanitary facilities There are no proper toilet facilities. The government toilets & bathrooms are not properly maintained, so it is defunct. The people in this area face lot of difficulties, so they use near by river for their natural causes. They also don’t have proper bathrooms in their house, so they had made small sheds like to bath near their houses.

14. Sanitary arrangements The government has built toilets & bathrooms and left it to be managed by the private contractors. They charge Re. 1 for using toilets & bathrooms.

15. Job offers As the educational level is poor the job opportunities for them is limited. They don’t get remunerative jobs their children they get jobs in small scale industries, telephone exchanges and mainly employed as drivers mechanics….

16. Caste & community Most of the people belong to the community of Hindu vannar. There are so many divisions in vannar -Most backward class,(Hindu vannar, Muslim vannar), Scheduled caste (vannan, putthirai vannan) and so on. The vannar community is maintaining a community hall, to become a member they should pay a monthly subscription of Rs.10.

17. Housing facilities Houses are very small, even without doors. More than 5 to 6 members are living in a small house i.e. 6X6 ft. Many houses are in a damaged condition. They live in a constant fear that it may fall at any time.

18. Government help As this place is very comfortable for their work people are not willing to shift to the new areas government has allotted for them. For washermen the government is giving free brozen iron boxes (costs about Rs.3000)and many people have

19. Government interference The government has demolished many houses for the construction of a railway over bridge in that area. They had been paid poor compensation,..so they are not satisfied.. They filed a suits in court for more compensation.

20. Political influence In this slum most of the people belong to the ruling party D.M.K. Ward Councilor is Mr. Nillamegam, by profession he is an advocate. People feel that the councilor is attending their problems The councilor of this area belong to Thathaneri.

21. Self Help Groups There are self help groups for women. These groups are started by the Madurai Corporation. These groups are striving to develop the economic status of the people.

22. Role of social worker As a social worker we have many roles to be played among this community people. We must plan to improve their standard of living, their economic status, and life style. To create awareness among the public. To take their problems to notice of the government to take welfare measures. To create awareness among themselves in education, health, about their rights, etc.

23. Public feelings Even though they are not satisfied with their living they says that they are happy with what they has. It does not show their greatness, it shows their frustration in their life that they cannot come up from this.