Articles by Shobana Radhakrishnan

Once a fiery trade unionist and now a seasoned people's representative, Chennai's Ward 4 Councillor R Jayaraman has been involved in electoral politics for over 35 years. Hailing from the village of Veeranapuram in Thiruvallur district, his journey advocating for people's rights began early. At just 16, he led a protest demanding higher wages for the farmers in his village. This led to a lifetime of grassroots activism and public service. He previously served two terms as the Councillor of Ward 46. In the most recent local body elections, he secured victory as the Councillor of Ward 4 in the…

Anthony Ammal, a 43-year-old fisher from the coastal hamlet of Pulicat in Chennai, begins her day long before the sun scorches the concrete beneath her feet. Her mornings are occupied with preparing her two daughters for school and ensuring they are fed before she steps out. She then makes her way to the Pazhaverkadu fish market, where she labours for approximately 15 hours each day. As she settles into her allocated spot to clean the day's fresh catch, the sun begins to blaze overhead, and the humid breeze offers little relief. Her sunburnt skin stings each time the salty sweat…

Legal action by concerned citizens has frequently played a crucial role in safeguarding India's natural ecosystems. One such initiative finally stopped Pallavaram Municipality from dumping waste illegally inside the Pallavaram Periya Eri, a once-thriving lake in Chennai’s southern suburbs. Advocate Surendranath Karthik took up a pro bono case in 2012 to restore Pallavaram Periya Eri. The case was initially filed with the NGT's Principal Bench and later moved to the Southern Bench. After over a decade, the case resulted in court orders for the lake’s restoration. "Though I am not a resident of Pallavaram, I have seen my father advocating…

In the midst of buzzing classrooms at the Government Higher Secondary School in Sholinganallur, a row of neatly arranged plants thrives in grow bags, slightly elevated from the ground. These are no ordinary plants; the fresh produce from this school garden goes directly into the mid-day meal preparations, providing nourishment to the students. Amidst Chennai's concrete sprawl, children, especially from marginalised backgrounds, may have little exposure to abundant greenery. However, a unique initiative is changing that, improving access to organic produce while fostering environmental awareness and a love for nature. Here, students plant seeds, watching in awe as they grow…

Encroachments on Chennai lakes often begin with the construction of religious structures, such as temples. Unless citizens take collective action, such encroachments are likely to persist. This is a key lesson from the citizen-led initiative by the Federation of Sunnambu Kulathur Residents Welfare Association to protect Narayanapuram Lake. For years, Narayanapuram Lake has faced encroachments, with four temples and a church gradually expanding into its area. Each monsoon, floodwaters engulfed the residential areas around the lake, sparing neither homes nor the religious structures. The local residents rallied together; they engaged with elected representatives, used social media to raise awareness, and…

Muthulakshmi*, a sanitary worker contracted with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), begins her day at 4 am, travelling from her home in Kodungaiyur to South Chennai. After street cleaning, she and her co-workers use battery-operated vehicles (BOV) to collect household waste.  Few families practise waste segregation, leaving sanitary workers like Muthulakshmi to sort mixed waste themselves. Despite BOVs having separate bins, the process is time-consuming. This is where Micro Composting Centres (MCC) and Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) play a vital role. They provide dedicated spaces to sort waste and sell recyclables in exchange for incentives. However, the GCC’s decision to shut…

Chennai recorded the highest temperature of 42.7 degrees Celsius on May 17 last year, marking the hottest day of summer so far. According to a study by Heat Watch, titled Struck by Heat: A News Analysis of Heat Stroke Deaths in India in 2024, 733 deaths due to heatstroke were reported across 17 states in India between March and June. This year, the sweltering conditions have returned early. The India Meteorological Department has issued a forecast and heatwave warning, stating that maximum temperatures will likely remain above normal by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius across many parts of coastal Tamil…

In urban areas, an unmistakable, overpowering stench often signals the presence of a waste processing facility in a neighbourhood. The foul odour emanating from these sites has long been a major concern for residents and civic authorities. It is also purportedly one of the main reasons behind the Greater Chennai Corporation's (GCC) recent decision to shut down 168 Micro Composting Centres (MCC) and 88 Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) across the city. Despite the challenges, these MCCs play a crucial role in Chennai’s decentralised waste management system. If foul odour and associated health concerns are the problem, a micro composting centre…

Two years ago, I visited the Central Park South apartment complex in Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) to observe and write about its in-house Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). While large apartment complexes are required to have the facility to treat their sewage, many in Chennai lack one. Unlike other buildings in OMR, Central Park South had little choice, as the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has yet to provide essential services like drinking water and underground drainage. I revisited the apartment this month, eager to see how the sewage treatment system had evolved. While it has had a…

வண்ணாரப்பேட்டையைச் சேர்ந்த 24 வயதான தரிஷினி, தான் தினமும் குடிக்கும் தண்ணீர் தனது உடல்நலத்தை இவ்வளவு மோசமாக பாதிக்கும் என்று ஒருபோதும் எதிர்பார்க்கவில்லை. திருநெல்வேலியைச் சேர்ந்த தரிஷினி கடந்த இரண்டு வருடங்களாக சென்னையில் தனியாக வசித்து வருகிறார். ஒரு நாள் மாலை, வேலையிலிருந்து வீடு திரும்பிய பிறகு, அவருக்கு கடுமையான வயிற்று வலி ஏற்பட்டது. மதிய உணவாக சாப்பிட்ட காரமான உணவு காரணமாக இருக்கலாம் என்று கருதி, அவர் மருந்தகங்களில் கிடைக்கும் சில மருந்துகளை எடுத்துக்கொண்டு படுக்கைக்குச் சென்றார். இருப்பினும், மறுநாள் அவரது அறிகுறிகள் மோசமடைந்தன. மேலும் அவருக்கு அதிக காய்ச்சல் ஏற்பட்டது. அவர் மருத்துவரின் அறிவுரைகளின்றி தானாக மருந்து எடுத்துக்கொண்டு இருந்தார், ஆனால் நிலைமை மோசமாகிவிட்டது. "அதிர்ஷ்டவசமாக, என்னைப் பார்க்க வந்த என் தோழி, நான் உடல்நிலை சரியில்லாமல் இருப்பதைக் கவனித்து அருகிலுள்ள மருத்துவமனைக்கு அழைத்துச் சென்றார். அங்குள்ள மருத்துவர்கள் நான் கடுமையாக நீரிழப்புடன் (severe dehydration) இருப்பதாகவும், என்…