Kannapar Thidal follow up

 

Inequities of eviction continue at Kannappar Thidal

At a corporation shelter in Kannappar Thidal, families are tired of seeking basic facilities and better living conditions for twenty-two years and counting

CHENNAI: When Selvam was as usual cleaning the public toilet at Kannapar Thidal road, a man who claimed to be an inspector asked for Rs 1000 bribe from Selvam or he would lock the public toilet. 

Despite not being able to afford it, Selvam quietly paid. He paid because the dirty public toilet is the only lavatory for the over 200 people living in Kannappar Thidal.

Kannappar Thidal, set amid the hustle and grime of central Chennai, is a small two-floor structure at right angles to the main road. It is hidden from the gaze of the public by a row of shops and delivery vans parked on the side of the road. A small opening to the structure is the only access to the place. The opening cannot be seen from the road either as the view is blocked by a tree growing on the footpath.

Selvam talked about the out-of-pocket expenditures they had to endure staying at Kannapar Thidal. From paying bribes to the officers to day-to-day living expenses, the struggle isn't worth it, he mentioned. 

The story Selvam recounts shows the system's negligence towards his community. He explained the long trail of injustice and government apathy towards his people. “Egmore is a reserved constituency and MLA despite being someone belonging to our community does not help us,” he said.

The people of Kannapar Thidal stayed in tents outside the city administration headquarters in Rippon building. Until, one day in 2002 (1997 according to the residents and 2002 according to the govt records) they were evicted.

Kannappar Thidal shelter was used by labourers back in 2000. Now, this barely-standing unstable building is a home for 67 and more families, the number increases every year. 

Selvam recollects the day he was forced out, “I'm one amongst the fourth generation. We were evicted from a place we had been living for generations. We thought, as promised, we would be allotted houses within three months or so'’ he said. 

 

D. Selvam was working at the Chennai corporation when he was evicted along with 67 families from the peripheries of the Ripon building in 1997. He was forty at the time. 

Now in 2023, this 60-year-old is questioning the false promises made by different governments since 1997. "Every government has betrayed us, not just the current one," he emphasises this in every conversation about the issues at Kannapar Thidal. 

The place is not more than 1.25 grounds and holds a structure that houses more than 400 residents. Selvam can't count the exact number of residents, every time he talks it's a different count since the number fluctuates every year.

The eviction happened without notice and was headed by Madras Commissioner, M. P Vijayakumar IAS, as recounted by Selvam. "When over 2000 houses were built at K.P park, they promised us permanent housing -  DMK MLA, Ravi Chandran, said that he will give us houses at the KP park building,” Selvam said. 

There is rampant poverty as displayed by the people here (see 360 video). There is this narrative that people like Selvam cannot be moved into better lodgings elsewhere as they might not get paid enough in their informal jobs to afford travelling to work.

"When evictions happen, the most vulnerable are targeted, it's inevitable," said IIHS officer, MP Vijayakumar.

Selvam studied till the ninth standard. He has taken up different jobs - daily wage jobs for Rs. 50, labourer at an employment exchange in Adyar and he also drove a taxi.

Selvam has three children, two sons, and a daughter. His daughter is a 29-year-old BA graduate and works as a saleswoman. His oldest is an MA graduate and works at swiggy. While his younger son is a law graduate. His children studied under sponsorship. 

Selvam talking about the lack of facilities said, “The government-given TVs don't work. They didn't even last 6 months. We bought our own. We have to pay for the cable connection, monthly Rs. 600-700.” 

Selvam cleans toilets for a living. The public toilet right in front of the building is the only bathroom available for the families. “Obviously residents here can't pay me. I still do the maintenance. Motor stopped working last month and I had to fix it”. 

Kannappar Thidal opens a story of humanitarian crisis and continuing injustice. Every makeshift shelter uses scrap and rags, it holds human lives and stories of continuing neglect of the very basic needs. People staying in these shelters since 2002 are not listed in any government records. 

Selvam is on the task of getting the necessary documents that can avail him and his community the proof of their existence and claim their rights to live with dignity.  He wants their story to be recorded as the dead and living of Kannappar Thidal have been politically ignored for a long time now.

“I have sent a request to the Dist collector through zonal officers, I hope at least some changes take place,” he said. Selvam also recounted the requests he forwarded to MLA, I Paranthamen.

He pointed at a 19-year-old girl with her newborn who is one and a half months old, “She is in so much pain, she had a c-section during this rainy season, and coming back to this place after something like that is difficult, can you even imagine?” Selvam asked. 

Talking about the living conditions in Kannapar Thidal, Selvam said that many suffer from severe health conditions - infectious illnesses, chronic illnesses, and disabilities. Amidst these trajectories, they fear that if help comes, it would come with a price. “We can’t afford police cases and court involvements, so we don’t file cases, that is why when people die here, we can’t complain, but we have a lot happening inside here,” Selvam said. He talked about young residents’ mental and physical difficulties and the suicide deaths at Kannapar Thidal. 

There are signs of accumulated problems and dangers at Kannappar Thidal, where one does not have the freedom for privacy or safety. Women say they suffer through sleepless nights, children try to play with toys they collect from dirt-filled scrap. This proves to be a case of state-inflicted livelihood, health, and humanitarian crisis sidelined for a long period of time. 

Selvam narrates his personal struggles and the community’s collective struggle at Kannappar Thidal. In his words - It's a big mixed bag of issues and he has to explain it to everyone who asks, yet he details it hoping to get out of Kannappar Thidal’s unsafe premise.