CHENNAI: Washermen at Chepauk face eviction

By G Saravanan
Published in The New Indian Express, on September 10, 2010:

CHENNAI: More than 20 families of washermen community settled specifically for cleaning clothes used by MLAs at Omanthoorar Government Estate at Chepauk now face an uncertain future after the state government became adamant in evicting them to make more land for the new Secretariat.
According to the families, the state government had served a notice asking them to vacate the area by July first week to pave way for construction of additional buildings for the new secretariat.
However, these families, which include about 10 newborn kids and a few school-going children, stayed put expecting a last minute ‘change of mind’ from the government officials as they only settled them about four decades ago to clean clothes used by MLAs.
“We don’t know what to do in the coming days and the 20-odd washermen families are now facing an uncertain future due to impending dislocation and loss of livelihood,” said G Murali, one of the washermen.
Serving the final ultimatum to the washermen families, M Selvaraj, Legislative Assembly Secretary, on Tuesday informed them to vacate the area by September 10, as they need to hand it (land) to PWD the next day for development.
Though these families tried their best to meet their MLA (Chepauk) and the Chief Minister M Karunanidhi several times to air their grievance directly, CM’s security men stopped them from reaching anywhere near Gopalapuram (CM’s residence).

“We are helpless and all the families are in a state of shock due to the categorical denial by the state government of their pleas,” said Munusamy, another washerman.
In fact, these families had suggested four alternative places to shift them in the close vicinity, but the government rejected it and made a final push on Tuesday to evict them from the Omanthoorar Government Estate. They appealed to the Chief Minister to consider their case and protect their livelihood.