Erode Corporation hands over maintenance of six parks to women’s self-help groups

Women self-help groups maintain six parks with ₹60 lakh funding, improving park conditions and providing job opportunities.

The Corporation has handed over the operation and maintenance of six parks to women self-help groups, allocating ₹60 lakh for their salaries and other costs.

The civic body established three parks in the Housing Unit of Kollampalayam (Ward 59) and one park each in Lakshmi Garden (Ward 56), Periyar Nagar (Ward 45), and Senapathipalayam (Ward 56) during the years 2015-16 and 2016-17. Recently, the Central Government directed the civic body to maintain these parks by involving women’s self-help groups as part of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT 2.0) project. In response to this directive, the civic body selected these six parks and identified six self-help groups to oversee their operation and maintenance.

Of the parks chosen for maintenance, the park near Vinayagar Temple at Kollampalayam is in poor condition. Residents reported that play equipment has been damaged for years and that overgrown bushes reflect a lack of proper upkeep. They urged the Corporation to ensure regular maintenance as part of the new arrangement.

The self-help groups have been given the responsibility of operating and maintaining the parks under specific conditions. A total of 18 group members will earn a monthly salary of ₹13,000, while the civic body will cover additional expenses.