On 14 April, Chennai Math handed over 22 low-cost houses to 22 poor fishermen families who had lost their shanties in the recent flood in Pattinapakkam area in Chennai. Chennai Math also handed over the newly built ‘Swami Vivekananda Community Hall and Educational Centre’ and 60 newly constructed low-cost houses to 60 poor flood-affected families of Meliruppu Panchayat area in Cuddalore district on 28 June. The houses and the community hall were handed over by the General Secretary in the presence of Swami Gautamanandaji. The beneficiary families were also provided 60 stoves and LPG cylinders on this occasion. One of the main streets in this village, which was till now known as ‘Thotti Theru’ (Scavengers’ Street) was renamed as ‘Vivekanandar Street’.
The handing over ceremony of 19 new low-cost houses and 13 additional toilet units constructed by Chennai Students’ Home for poor Irula tribals in Thathaimanji village in Ponneri taluk of Thiruvallur district took place on 6 April. On this occasion 31 cots, and a similar quantity of racks, blankets, stoves and utensil sets (each set containing 2 vessels with lids, 2 spoons, 4 plates and 4 tumblers) were distributed among 31 poor families.
On 29 June, the General Secretary laid the foundation stone of the ‘Sister Nivedita Community Hall’ being constructed here. This settlement of Irula tribals has been renamed as ‘Vivekanandapuram’. The centre is also taking steps towards extending this rehabilitation project by constructing 76 similar low-cost houses for poor flood-affected Irula tribal families in 3 more villages in Thiruvallur district.
Coimbatore Math distributed various construction materials to 8 families of Vangivakkam village in Thiruvallur district from 1 to 29 March under ‘Build Your Own House’ scheme.