With the entry of millennials, corporate managers are faced with an additional challenge. They are now forced to accommodate an approach that is often not just markedly different but also conflicting with those taken by previous generations. But in a corporate set-up, there are carved-in-stone systems that cut each approach down to size. A neighbourhood is a microcosm of a corporate unit. Different generations co-exist and each will want to occupy positions and take up responsibilities that will enable them to make a meaningful contribution. As members of a neighbourhood offer their services on a voluntary basis, it is often difficult to reconcile these different approaches. But the challenge has to be addressed — in a manner that makes the millennial generation a key component of neighbourhood management. There are examples to learn from. In the Anna Indira Nagar Residents Welfare Association, many key responsibilities are shouldered by residents in the 22-to-35 age group. This approach of letting the young lead the flock began immediately after the 2015 Chennai floods, when Logesh, who was travelling then, could not reach his wife and their one-month-old baby back home. After days of futile efforts to contact his family, he finally learnt that they were safe with his neighbours, whom he hardly knew. That was an eye opener for Logesh, who decided to create a network of friendship in the neighbourhood. “With the help of around 20 youngsters who have a sense of civic and social responsibility, we started an exercise to get the thousand-plus families residing on the 26 streets in this neighbourhood to connect with each other,” he says. The young group conducted several activities and celebrations in the community. They also addressed minor civic issues and planted saplings. “Finally, senior members were convinced that youngsters like us could increase the membership of the association. We visited each household, explained the benefits of joining the association. Also, with the help of sponsors, we distributed membership cards that allow residents to avail of certain discounts. We formed a WhatsaApp group to give them updates on the happenings in and around the neighbourhood,” says Logesh, who is joint secretary of the association.

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