The Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar and Housing Development Corporation (TAHDCO) has formed community groups consisting of members from Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) to manage and maintain community halls, village knowledge centres, and multipurpose centres under its control across the State, with an aim to ensure better upkeep of assets and promote community participation.According to official sources, previously, the responsibility of maintaining these community assets under TAHDCO’s control was vested with village panchayats. However, many of these assets were not maintained properly resulting in poor upkeep and damages to infrastructure. To address these concerns and ensure the effective utilisation of these spaces, TAHDCO has set up dedicated community hall maintenance groups comprising SC/ST members from local areas. These groups function similar to self-help groups, with a structured model of operation and financial backing.Each group receives a loan of ₹3.5 lakh from TAHDCO through the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) at a concessional interest rate. Further, the State government provides a 35% subsidy under the CM-ARISE scheme, reducing the repayment burden significantly, said K.S. Kandasamy, Managing Director, TAHDCO.The funds are being used to procure essential furniture such as chairs, dining tables, and office equipment. The groups are allowed to rent out the premises for events and functions at affordable rates to generate income. Unlike the earlier system, where the ownership of the asset was in the name of the respective panchayat president, the new model places the asset under the name of the District Manager, TAHDCO. Beyond financial benefits, this model gives a sense of community ownership and responsibility, he added.Published - June 23, 2025 12:04 am IST