The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC)’s Ward 185 is reserved for women candidates. If not for the reservation, Sharmila Devi wouldn’t have made her political debut. “Both my father-in-law and husband have been in politics for over a decade. Since the ward was reserved for women, I contested and won to become Councillor,” she says.
Ward 185 of Chennai also constitutes areas in Ullagaram that were annexed to GCC in 2011. The locals face issues such as inadequate drinking water supply, lack of proper underground drainage systems and poor road infrastructure in these areas.
Ward 185 in Chennai
- Name of the Councillor: Sharmila Devi Dhivakar
- Age: 39
- Party: DMK
- Education: BA
- Number: 9445467185 / 9841094666
Read more: Chennai Councillor Talk: Infrastructure and health are my focus, says Kayalvizhi, Ward 179
Primary goals for Ward 185
What would you consider your biggest achievements during your term as the councillor of Ward 185 so far?
The road infrastructure in Ward 185 has not been developed for the last 10–15 years. After I took charge, I ensured the roads were re-laid. I have brought in stormwater drain facilities and upgraded the classroom facilities in government schools within the ward. Also, Ward 185 did not have a Primary Health Centre (PHC) until recently. The residents had to go to the PHC in the nearby ward. Now, we have a PHC that caters to the needs of the people in this area.
How do you interact with the constituents? What kind of outreach activities have you held so far and plan in future? How can people in the ward contact you?
My mobile number has been circulated to all my constituents. I attend to the complaints immediately and coordinate with the officials in-charge to resolve the issues. I have also formed WhatsApp groups for the residents to post their complaints.
How have you used your Ward Development Funds (the fund allotment has been increased from Rs 35 lakhs to Rs 50 lakhs since February 2024)?
I have utilised Rs 70 lakhs of the Ward Development Funds so far. Most of this amount has gone for improving road infrastructure and upgrading old roads. We have also used the funds to change street name boards and for stormwater drain works.
Issues in Ward 185 of Chennai
What are the major issues in Ward 185? What measures have you taken to address them?
While basic facilities like road infrastructure, stormwater drains, and underground drainage are some of the key issues in Ward 185 of Chennai, the delay on issuance of patta for over 250 families in 57 acres of land in Kalaignar Karunanidhi Nagar is one of the major problems. We have been coordinating with the MLA concerned, and officials from the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) to come up with a solution to this issue.
Read more: Councillor Talk: Ensuring basic amenities the focus of Sherly Thomas in Ward 187 – Madipakkam
Ongoing development works
How are you addressing the issues about a lack of basic amenities in the ward?
The underground drainage pipelines laid before 2011 do not have the carrying capacity for the current population. Since the pipelines have become old, there is also leakage that leads to sewage mixing with drinking water. When we take these complaints to the officials of the concerned department, they address issues with temporary solutions. To resolve this permanently, we have requested the government to lay new pipelines.
Since we have completed the stormwater drain works in almost all the areas, the rainwater flows down in a couple of hours these days depending on the intensity of the rainfall. However, we are hoping that there no floods in the upcoming monsoon season.
Vision for Ward 185
What do you hope to achieve in your term as Councillor?
Ward 185 includes both developed neighbourhoods and underdeveloped areas where mostly low-income communities reside. I would be happy to transform areas like Kalaignar Karunanidhi Nagar, where these communities live, into model localities with all basic amenities in place.
What would your message be to women who want to come into politics?
Before I came into politics, my world was only my family and children. But when I see women councillors, who hail from a similar background and are quite bold in the council, I feel inspired and I think more women should come into grassroots politics.
What is your vision for Chennai?
The Chief Minister has introduced several initiatives for the betterment of education in government schools of Chennai. I wish that students across the city make optimum use of these facilities.
What the residents of Ward 185 in Chennai say:
Kadhiresan, a flower vendor in Ward 185 of Chennai has many issues but he points out that the mixing of sewage with drinking water is a major concern. “This apart, a lot of civic works are going on in the ward. I am not sure if the government has any plans before initiating such works as we see one department laying a road one day and another department digging it open the next day,” he says.