Two years ago, the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) had announced that it would launch an online grievance redressal cell where people and those residing in tenements constructed by it could easily file complaints on issues concerning housing instead of waiting for long hours outside their office. The department, however, is yet to come out with the portal.
“We are still in the finalising stage and are in talks with a private consultant, who will be designing the portal. It should come out in the coming months,” said a senior official from the board. The official said that they had planned to launch it last year, but it was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He said that the cell will be launched on http://www.tnscb.org.
Due to its absence, several petitioners and complainants said that they had to take a day off or lose a day’s wage and wait outside the board’s circle and head office, sometimes for more than six hours to get their plea heard.
“I took a day’s leave again to come here and submit my petition for housing. I have also been trying to meet the official concerned to speak about my plight, but they are not available,” said R Kalaivizhi, a sweeper from Anna Nagar who went to the TNSCB head office last Tuesday. “If they are so busy they must find an alternative, like the portal. It is difficult to keep coming and standing all day outside,” she said.
