Episode 6: Perumbakkam

We conclude the series in Perumbakkam, a community of resettlement sites in the southern Indian city of Chennai, one of the cities in South Asia most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. As a result of the government’s response to flood mitigation, marginalised communities are displaced to the outskirts of the city. In this episode, we hear from the community members involved in the housing rights organisation, Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities (IRCDUC). They’ll discuss how the community now feels empowered with their issues and ideas being represented by IRCDUC in government decision-making. They’ll illustrate the importance of centring social justice and community engagement in responding to the effects of climate change. Imagining a different future is particularly difficult in Perumbakkam but be inspired as we hear from the community members envisioning ways to transform sites of exclusion into homes.

Delve into the series more and explore our show notes here: https://tinyurl.com/5x9bwxas 

Credits
Narrated by: Rohit Nair
Written by: Rohit Nair
Edited by: Aston Brown, Genevieve Wright
Featuring:
- Vanessa Peter is the Founder of the Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities and a policy researcher ad social activist.
- Mercy M and Mahalaxmi are Community Fellows from the Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities.
- Karen Coelho is an Associate Professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies. Karen’s research interest include urban anthropology including critical examinations of urban collective action, urban infrastructure including housing, shelter policies and resettlement schemes.
- Natasha Thomas (English translations)