Indian group with a mission

When the Social Development Association of Jinjang Selatan Tambahan was established in 1997, its main objective was to tackle the social ills among the Indians in that area. At that time, the area was blacklisted. The troubled youths were idling and taking part in undesirable activities. This tarnished the image of the area.

However, the setting up of the association has brought about positive changes for the youths and the place. The youths now engage in healthy activities organised by the association. Last, year, the association rented a house and this was made a community centre to ensure the residents, especially youths, spent their spare time here instead of being led astray.

"In the past, Indian youths in the area had created many social problems. There was a lack of social programmes specially conducted for them then. Through the association and with the help of MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Yayasan Strategik Sosial has conducted many social activities for the community," said the association president P.Karuppiah.

Among the many activities which the association is organising this year are gotong-royong projects, community interaction functions, education women on their rights, health care campaigns, blood donation drives and a fire safety campaign. Karrupiah said besides these, the association was also emphasising on self-development programmes for the youths. He said the youths had also joined the association's football programme and were now training three days a week.

"Before we started the programme, they were wasting time and hanging around aimlessly," he said, adding that the association had also introduced other sports and games at the centre, including chess, darts, board games and ping pong. " Now the crime rate is lower. The youths are spending more time at the centre," he said.

Recently, the association members cleared a dumpsite at a plot allocated by the local authority for recreational purposes. Karrupiah said the association has also spent more than RM10,000 to fence up as well as beautify the area and had already applied to build a community hall on the plot.

"We hope the City Hall will consider our application for the hall," he said.

For more information about the association, call Karrupiah at 03-4041 5958

(Submitted on 17th June 2002)