Social Media often takes a lot of hits when people blame it for corrupting the minds of youths and has also been linked to mental health issues among youngsters. But this report will prove that if used constructively, a lot of good can come out of social media. And by saying good, we mean betterment of the society. For example, the Sivakasi Facebook Friends Group, which started to do something for their community, has restored the Paneer Theppam in Sivakasi Municipality.
The Paneer Theppam, a man-made reservoir, is located in Sivakasi, Virudhunagar district. A few years ago, it was in such a deplorable state that it could hardly be called a temple pond. The reservoir has now been completely cleaned and restored by the Sivakasi Facebook Friend’s Group. In 2014, three Facebook friends—Saravanakanth, Shankar, and Shanmuga Rathnam—realized they were from the same hometown. This connection inspired them to pursue something meaningful. They decided to meet in person and formed the Sivakasi Facebook Friends (SFF) group.
Attracted by their mission, others joined them. Their initial project was to rehabilitate the Paneer Theppam, which was then overgrown and littered with garbage. After three months of dedicated work, the pond was restored and became a proud symbol of Sivakasi. The pond, which was once surrounded by sky lotuses, has been dredged, its natural capacity increased two to three times, and provisions have been made to channel rainwater from nearby areas into the pond. As a result, the pond is now filled to its full capacity. This has also raised the groundwater levels in the surrounding areas. Additionally, to transform the pond into a recreational area, a park with a walking path and a selfie point has been set up for the public.
Over the years, SFF has grown significantly and now boasts 80,000 members. The group is managed by an admin focus team of 54 members who coordinate and participate in various community projects.
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