Over 2,000 residents belonging to the Arundhathiyar community in Vivekanandapuram (Ward 7) under the Periyanaickenpalayam Town Panchayat have urged the authorities to renovate the community hall in their area.Vivekanandapuram, falling under Kovundampalayam constituency, houses more than 600 families. Majority of the residents work as daily-wage laborers, and sanitation workers at the Town Panchayat.​The community hall was constructed in 2007 using the Member of Parliament Local Area Development funds of the then Nilgiris MP, R. Prabhu. Since its inception, the hall has been the sole affordable venue for the local people to host functions, for which the Town Panchayat charges ₹1,000. Additionally, the administration frequently utilises the space for conducting medical camps, awareness programmes, town sabha meets, and women’s self-help group meetings.​Despite its high utility, the building has not seen any maintenance or repair work for the past 18 years. Window panes, doors, restroom fixtures, water pipelines, and the electricity meter box are completely broken. The toilets, bathrooms, and the other rooms lack power supply. The building has not received a fresh coat of paint since its construction.​Over the past five years, residents have repeatedly submitted petitions to authorities, including the Chief Minister’s Special Cell, Minister for Municipal Administration, Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare, the Scheduled Castes Welfare Board, and the District Collector during grievances redress camps.​Following a petition sent to the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare on February 19, 2026, the Collector was directed to submit a report to the Commission by March 6, 2026. However, no action has been taken. The residents have now sent fresh appeals to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, Adi Dravidar Welfare Minister Vanniyarasu, and Kavundampalayam MLA Kanimozhi Santhosh.Srinivasan, Executive Officer of the Periyanaickenpalayam Town Panchayat, said, “A formal proposal for the renovation and construction of an additional building has been sent on a priority basis. The work will commence as soon as the funds are sanctioned.” Published - June 18, 2026 06:54 pm IST