Serving strangers in Velachery

At AGS Colony in Velachery the residents are coming together to care for those on the streets. For over eight years, a daily buttermilk distribution near Hindu Vidyalaya has been serving conservancy workers, delivery staff, passengers and MTC bus crews during hours when the mercury shoots up.

Between 10 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. every day, nearly 70 litres of buttermilk is distributed, reaching around 250 to 300 people. The effort is sustained entirely through local participation. “Participation is by the entire community,” says Upendra Sai, District President, Chennai South East. “Some residents bring curd, some bring water and many come forward to serve.” Children are at the heart of the initiative. “This is primarily done by Balavikas children aged 6 to 15. The idea is to inculcate the value of service in them,” he explains, with adults supporting the preparation.

The impact is visible in small but telling ways—buses pause briefly so passengers can have a drink, and nearby institutions extend support. Contributions are pooled in kind. “No single person is funding it. Each interested person contributes whatever they can,” Sai adds.

The mud pot: a symbol of care in Mandaveli

In Mandaveli, on Raja Street, next to the local PHC, residents have placed a mud pot filled with drinking water outside their apartment. It is accessible throughout the day to delivery agents, vendors, conservancy workers and visitors waiting at the clinic. Between 11:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., residents also distribute buttermilk, rose milk or nannari sharbat. The initiative, which began in April, will continue through May or until the sample loses its edge. Around 25 people benefit daily during this window.

“We started this keeping the summer heat in mind. Many of them are out on the streets for long hours,” says Ganga Sridhar of the Mandaveli Raja Street Residents Welfare Association. “Now, some even time their rounds to stop here. That shows it is useful.”

The effort is supported by a small group of resident donors and coordinated by apartment members and watchmen. On May 1, the association marked Labour Day with a one-day meal distribution for over 50 workers, including domestic helpers, vendors, and security staff. “It is a way of acknowledging the people who keep our daily lives running,” a resident says.

An everyday thing in Semmancherry

At the gated community Navin’s Marisdale in Semmancherry, care for essential workers is not limited to peak summer, but into its everyday functioning.

“Our Association takes great pride in fostering a warm, supportive, and inclusive environment,” says secretary Muruganandham. One of the more distinctive efforts involves recycling: scrap collected from residents is sold, and the money is “reinvested with care” into staff welfare—covering tea, coffee, buttermilk during summer and even occasional treats like biriyani.

The support extends to what the campus itself produces. “Coconut, guava, pomegranate and banana are shared with our staff,” he says, referring to security guards, gardeners and sanitation workers. Any surplus is sold, with proceeds again routed back into welfare.

Practical steps are added as summer progresses. “Water is essential—unlimited drinking water is always accessible,” he notes. Staff and sanitation workers are also offered watermelon and tender coconut during the season. Importantly, work hours are adjusted: “They can come early and leave before the scorching heat.”

“Coming from middle-class backgrounds ourselves, we understand their needs,” Muruganandham adds. “Even small gestures can bring genuine happiness.”

An ‘oasis’ in Perungalathur

At SSM Nagar in Perungalathur, now in its fourth year, the initiative began with a simple observation: construction workers, delivery personnel, and daily wage labourers often had to buy drinking water or go without it.

“We found people buying water or asking for it during summer, and felt, as an association, we could start keeping water here,” recalls Saravanan Kuppuswamy, former Secretary of SSMNOA. From a single water kiosk, the initiative has grown into a network of three strategically placed points across the neighbourhood. Each is replenished daily by a dedicated vendor, with association members and volunteers closely monitoring both quantity and quality. “Every day, the pots are filled. If it gets over, we ensure it is replenished immediately,” he says.

The programme has since expanded to include evening buttermilk distribution, supported by Akshayakalpa. Between 4 p.m. and 5.30 p.m., dozens of people gather, from children returning from play to workers on their way home. “It is not about numbers but it is about making sure anyone who is thirsty is taken care of,” he adds.