Articles by Bhavani Prabhakar

As a social activist, Siva Elango knows what he has to do to improve the state of urban governance and the quality of life of suburban residents. He dons many hats -- Siva started his career as a journalist and took a plunge into politics when he became the founder-president of Makkal Sakthi Katchi in 2009. He contested in the bye-elections from Bargur and Pennagaram constituencies in 2009 and 2010, respectively. In the 2011 elections, he contested against the former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in Tiruvarur constituency.  In 2013, Siva gave up politics and founded Satta Panchayat Iyakkam (SPI), a…

Located in North Chennai, Madhavaram constituency was added to Chennai district in 2018. Although the locality falls within the core areas of the city, 50% of Madhavaram has a rustic landscape, dominated by the presence of Aavin milk factory. The residential area around the factories is called Madhavaram Milk Colony with a population of around 5,000. Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and Madhavaram Botanical Garden are some of the key localities that the neighbourhood is known for. The Madhavaram Satellite Bus Terminus, located in this constituency, was inaugurated in 2018. Buses bound for Andhra Pradesh originated at this…

Located in the southern part of Chennai, Tambaram is a developing suburban area that is an entry and exit point for Chennai. As the area is growing rapidly, many people prefer settling down in and around Tambaram, which is well connected with the city and IT corridors. The second airport for the city and a bus terminal at Kilambakkam are some of the projects in the pipeline that could benefit the residents of the suburb. Some of the areas in Tambaram constituency: Chitlapakkam, Kadaperi, Tambaram, Mudichur, Perungalathur, Sembakkam and Selaiyur. Representative image. Voters in 2016 (excluding postal votes) Total number of…

In 2011, Ambattur was one among the areas that were added to the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). The neighbourhood has the biggest small scale industrial estate in South Asia and is witnessing a boom in the IT industry. While the quality of roads has improved in the recent past, overall development over the last three decades still leaves much to be desired. As an industrial estate, Ambattur constituency is home to a floating population, due to which the area falls behind in citizen activism. Since 2011, the constituency has seen an AIADMK candidate in the MLA seat. Some of the areas…

A Ponnusamy is articulate and expressive. Representing the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), he appears to be very clear about what he wants and has concrete plans to develop his constituency and help dairy farmers in Tamil Nadu. He is also the President of TN Milk Dealers' Employees' Association. Contesting from Perambur constituency, where he has been a resident since 1997, he feels that he has a better understanding of the problems faced by the people of the constituency. The northern part of the city has been a DMK bastion for a long time now, and Ponnusamy will be facing off…

Translated by Sandhya Raju மூத்த குடிமக்கள் மற்றும் 45 வயதுக்கு மேல் இணை நோய்கள் உள்ளவர்களுக்கு மார்ச் மாதம் 1-ம் தேதி இரண்டாம் கட்ட கோவிட் தடுப்பூசிக்கான பதிவு தொடங்கப்பட்டது. சுகாதார மற்றும் குடும்ப நல அமைச்சகத்தின் அறிவிப்பின்படி, பொது மக்கள் கோ-வின் வலைதளத்தில் மட்டுமே பதிவு செய்ய வேண்டும் என்றும் தடுப்பூசி பணியில் ஈடுபடுபவர்கள் மட்டுமே கோ-வின் செயலி உபயோகிக்க வேண்டும் என தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. Read more: Interview: When and how will Chennai get the COVID vaccine? எவ்வாறு பதிவு செய்வது? நேரடியாக சென்று பதிவு செய்ய முடியுமா? என்னென்ன அடையாள அட்டை தேவை? இது போன்ற பல கேள்விகளுக்கு இந்த கட்டுரை மூலம் பதிலளிக்க முயற்சித்துள்ளோம். கோவிட் தடுப்பூசி. படம்: வி. நரேஷ் குமார். பதிவு செய்யும் நடைமுறை என்ன? அருகாமையில் உள்ள தடுப்பூசி மையத்தில் தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக்கொள்ள கோ-வின் வலைதளமே அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்ட பதிவு…

In about three weeks from now, citizens of the state will be casting their vote to elect the Members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly (MLA). The state legislative body in Tamil Nadu is a unicameral legislature, that is, it has only the lower house, unlike Karnataka’s bicameral legislature with an assembly and a council.  The Tamil Nadu assembly has a strength of 234 members, known as MLAs, who form the legislative body. The members are democratically elected by the citizens of the state. MLAs are in charge of making laws, holding the state government accountable and approving public expenditure. On…

Chennai is one among the many urban civic bodies in Tamil Nadu that has not had local body elections in the last 10 years. The state government has been administering the cities and towns by appointing special officers in place of the Mayor and councillors. There has been a lot of hue and cry over the absence of an elected local government, but with little effect. Now with the State Assembly elections around the corner, will it pave the way for conduct of municipal elections? Can we expect to see concrete reforms in urban governance? Will Chennai and other cities in…

When it comes to bus services in the city, there seems to be a wide and clear gap between what residents want and what they get. A recent newspaper report highlighted the intensifying public call for resumption of small buses on route S3 along the Chrompet-Madambakkam route, that were stopped three years ago. When members of a residents' association in Chitlapakkam filed a petition with the CM Cell, they received a reply saying services had been stopped due to poor patronage. Yet, there are many commuters who say that they were benefitted by these buses that used to run at…

Amid the constant hustle and bustle of activities that keep Kotturpuram buzzing, the Miyawaki forest located near the Kotturpuram MRTS is a peaceful sanctuary, a pleasant burst of green and fresh air for all who pause here. The urban forest, which turned one in early February, was created in 2019 after cleaning about 1,600 tonnes of waste. More than 2,000 saplings of different varieties were planted that now yield hibiscus flowers, papaya and drumstick pods among others in the 2211.87 sq m** plot of land. https://twitter.com/albyjohnV/status/1356077781927378946?s=20 The Miyawaki method of raising forests has gained immense popularity across cities. Since the…