Reclaiming abused open spaces in SRA colony Gautam Nagar

The Transformation of abused open spaces in SRA developed RR colony in Gautam Nagar, Govandi into lively colourful Public space is a journey of struggle with everyone for everyone. It is a Rehabilitation and Resettlement site where every individual was lacking sense of belongingness to the open spaces and contributed only in on-going abuse. In absence of responsibility towards surroundings, the open spaces were becoming waste dumping grounds   attracting diseases .This physical deprivation was leading into social nuisance like drugs, eve teasing, and hooliganism. Kids were not playing, girls couldn’t step out, youth indulging in anti-social activities, residents were helpless living in constant state of insecurity, 
MESN decided to intervene here in 2015 and our vision was not limited to bring physical change but a holistic change where residents feel belongingness towards their surroundings. It was a process of asking people to not destroy their surrounding instead cooperate to form better public spaces. At several instance we face arrogance in return, some groups had personal interest in occupying available open space .But our vision was always to take everyone along and it was a struggle to convince everyone and claim open space for public purpose.