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For a decent living

Though noisy, Jaihindpuram is attractive

PHOTO: S. JAMES

EVER BUSY Endearing and enduring Jaihindpuram

Zipping mopeds and noisy horns of vehicles, bustling streets and din of industrial units — the life beneath the Madura College bridge is all about unplanned urbanisation and resulting pollution. That is Jaihindpuram. Howsoever patriotic the literal meaning of the place may be — derived from the slogan of struggle for independence "Jai Hind" coined by political parties. But one finds it difficult to salute its existence.

Origin

Several areas including Villapuram, S.K. Puram converted into habitat land from agricultural acres when the Land Ceiling Act was implemented in 1957. But it was Jaihindpuram that took the lead with greater number of houses constructed, says a resident of four decades N. Krishnamoorthy.

Sub-areas

Given its proximity to Meenakshi Mills, TVS Industry and Jeya Vilas Motors, 80 per cent of the industrial labourers have chosen Jaihindpuram as their home. The major industries apart, the area is also dotted with small-scale sheds like those making appalam, match-sticks and tin boxes. "But many of these smaller units wound up and only a handful are left today. This has also led to a migration of the original settlers," says Mr. Krishnamoorthy. Jaihindpuram can be divided into two parts, essentially covering sub-areas such as Subramaniapuram, Sundarajapuram, Lakshmipuram, Venkatachalapuram, Andalpuram, Rethinapuram, Jeeva Nagar streets, Thevar Nagar and Thennagaram.

The areas falling under central constituency remain the same since 1952. But those which were under West constituency between 1952-72 were later included in Thiruparankundram constituency.

In the earlier days, Congress loyalists named the streets after national leaders and freedom fighters including Gandhiji, VOC, Bharathiar, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, Ramiah, Pulipandiyan and Jeeva. Later under DMK rule, extended streets area were named after Periyar, Kamarajar, Rajiv Gandhi, Marudhupandiyar, Kalaivanar NSK and Thiagi Sankaralinganar streets. Then there are streets named after local deities, Veerakaliamman and Sonniah.

Of all the streets, Ramiah Street is the biggest, widest and the longest. Once crowded with industries, it is now dominated by houses with a few tin and plastic box making industries fighting for survival.

The Jaihindpuram area was under the purview of Madakulam panchayat till 1972. In 1973, it was linked to Madurai Corporation, which brought to the area water and transport facilities and streetlights.

Though known for an element of rowdyism, Mr. Krishnamoorthy says with pride that the area has never witnessed caste-clashes. Umpteen number of costly private schools, shops and hospitals have come up in the area. "We go there out of necessity, especially during emergency," says S. Manjula. Sans government schools or nationalised banks, the transport system chalked out for the area falls inadequate.

Students have to walk upto three kilometres to reach their schools, especially corporation school children, says N. Natchiar, a resident.

In those days, labourers, who founded the area made it cheap and cosy, and built `imposing' buildings for themselves. Many continue to stay while others vacated paving way for new entrants. Even the poorest have a better chance of life in Jaihindpuram with inexpensive houses rents and good ground water, vouches S.Arunachalam, an auto driver, who has been living here for three decades.

"When I came Kovilpatti, people showed me the way to Jaihindpuram to start a new life with a minimum rent of Rs.17. With 70 per cent of the residents are lower middle class, I never feel fish out of water," he says.

S.S. KAVITHA

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