Date:22/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/22/stories/2008072258190200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Kannappar Thidal sports a new look

Staff Reporter

— Photo: S. Thanthoni

PLACE TO PLAY: Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin at the inauguration of a basketball court in Chennai on Monday.

Chennai: The Kannappar Thidal in Park Town has been spruced up and equipped with new sports facilities.

Several north Chennai residents, living in congested localities, would find the playground useful for sports and exercise. Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday inaugurated a gymnasium, a basketball court, an audience gallery and a walker’s track. The facilities were built at a cost of Rs. 67.41 lakh.

The Kannappar Thidal, belonging to the Chennai Corporation, was occupied in 2002 and 2003 by ice fish vendors who refused to vacate after their lease came to an end.

The land was recovered by the civic body after a High Court ruling stating that the land should be used as a playground. After the opening of the facilities, Mr. Stalin handed over revolving funds to the tune of Rs. 72.98 lakh to 500 self help groups (SHG) in the city. Of the 500 SHGs, 247 were given the funds under the Swarna Jayanthi urban self-employment programme and 253 under the Tamil Nadu Women Development Corporation schemes.

Money management

Mr. Stalin said that the soft loans given to women of self help groups had a 97 per cent repayment rate. “This encourages financial institutions to give more loans,” he said. Tamil Nadu has 3.70 lakh SHGs comprising about 59 lakh women members. Their total saving is Rs. 826 crore. Chennai has 18,557 SHGs comprising 2.95 lakh members. Their saving amounts to Rs.29 crore, the Minister said.