City: Chennai

The recently released Tamil film on OTT media, ‘Ponmagal Vandhal’,  draws attention to the issue of increasing incidences of child sexual abuse and ends with a strong message about Childline 1098 as well as POCSO, timing well with the increase in child abuse during the lockdown period.  With studies (Child Abuse Study 2007 by Government of India) showing that 1 in 2 children in India experience some form of sexual abuse, it is critical that measures for prevention of child sexual abuse be taken up not just by the government but also by other stakeholders at the ground level, which…

Translated by Sandhya Raju கோவிட்-19 தொற்றை தடுக்க பிறப்பிக்கப்பட்ட ஊரடங்கு உத்தரவால் பலர் தங்கள் குடும்பத்தினரை பிரிந்திருக்கும் சூழல் ஏற்பட்டது. அனைத்து போக்குரவரத்துகளும் நிறுத்தப்பட்டதால், வேலை நிமித்தம் வெளியூர் சென்றவர்கள் தங்கள் வீட்டிற்கு திரும்ப முடியவில்லை. அவசர காரணங்களுக்காக மட்டுமே பயணம் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டது அல்லது சொந்த வாகனம் வைத்திருந்தவர்கள் பயணிக்க முடிந்தது. ஒவ்வொரு ஊரடங்கு நீட்டிப்பின் போதும் சில தளர்வுகள் அளிக்கப்பட்டன. பல்லாயிரம் கி.மீ தூரம் உள்ள தங்கள் சொந்த ஊர் நோக்கி விருந்தினர் தொழிலாளர்கள் நடக்கத் தொடங்கியதும், மாநிலங்களுக்கிடையே ரயில் போக்குவரத்து ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டது. மேலும் தளர்வுகள் அறிவிக்கப்பட்ட சூழலில், மே மாதம் 25-ம் தேதி முதல் குறிப்பிட்ட சில நகரங்களுக்கு உள்நாட்டு விமான சேவை தொடங்கப்பட்டது. மாநிலங்கள் கடைப்பிடிக்க வேண்டிய நடைமுறை மற்றும் இயக்க முறை குறித்து விரிவான நடைமுறையை மத்திய சிவில் விமான போக்குவரத்து அமைச்சகம் வெளியிட்டுள்ளது. விமானப் பயணம் மேற்கொள்ளும் முன் கடைப்பிடிக்க வேண்டியவை…

Removing her thali (mangalsutra), Kripa (name changed), a staff nurse left for her workplace at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) a fortnight ago. That morning remains etched in her mind: it was the first time she removed the thali in over ten years of marriage and left home to be away from her family for fourteen days at a stretch. Kripa is a senior nurse tending to critically ill patients at the COVID ward of the government hospital. “We have to remove all jewels and accessories when we report to duty, as the virus can stay longer on…

Tamil Nadu recorded 1,116 fresh COVID cases on Friday, June 5th, of which 1,438 patients were reported from Chennai, according to the Health department bulletin. The total number of cases in Chennai alone stood at 19,826 till that date. In view of the same, the state government has deputed five ministers to monitor the relief work carried out by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). Here is the list: D Jayakumar - Madhavaram, Tondiarpet, RoyapuramKP Anbalagan - Adyar, Perungudi, Sholinganallur R Kamaraj - Anna Nagar, Teynampet, KodambakkamRB Udhayakumar - Thiruvottiyur, Manali, MadhavaramMR Vijayabhaskar - Ambattur, Valasaravakkam, Alandur Among the cases, eight policemen,…

Rajeshweri S. Silambarasan V. Krishnamurthy P. Not names you would be familiar with, but just a few among the thousands of street vendors in Chennai who have survived the lockdown. Around two and a half months ago, Rajeshweri used to sell flowers at Nesapakkam; Silambarasan ironed clothes at Mugalivakkam and a small roadside juice shop at Nanganallur won bread for Krishnamurthy. What ties them together today is poverty and uncertainty; the lockdown and the apathy of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) have thrown their lives into disarray. However, what saw them through the travails of the period was the monetary…

The famed Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Center for Herpetology, or simply, the Crocodile Bank for many locals, has been hit hard by the lockdown. Visitors to the park bring a major source of revenue and this stream has been cut off due to the stringent restrictions on travel. Recent travails The Crocodile Bank is an iconic institution that has been engaged in conservation of rare species for over four decades. It is a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike, with summers bringing in many visitors. The site is situated away from the bustle of the city, in Mahabalipuram.…

The initial stringent lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19 left many stranded far away from their hometowns and families. Those who had moved for work found themselves unable to return home as all forms of transport were suspended. Emergency travel was allowed only for those with pressing reasons and availability of a personal vehicle. With each extension of the lockdown, some relaxations were accorded. Inter-state trains for guest workers were operationalised after a large number of guest workers began travelling by foot to their homes which were hundreds of kilometres away. After more easing of lockdown norms, domestic air…

COVID-19: Work to set-up largest COVID care centre on, Multistorey buildings in T Nagar to remain shut, autos continue to ply in the city The state government today extended the lockdown with significant relaxations till June 30. According to the new guidelines, public transportation is not allowed to resume services in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur and Chengalpattu as the number of cases is increasing every day. Check the detailed guidelines below. New guidelines issued by the Tamil Nadu government for lockdown. Graphic: Aruna Natarajan On May 29, Tamil Nadu recorded 856 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the total to 21,184, according to…

It is always heartbreaking to cancel weddings. The pandemic imposed lockdown has forced hundreds of would-be couples to postpone their big event to some time later next year. At the same time, a significant new trend has also emerged during the crisis -- that of lockdown weddings. Given the uncertainty over when things will be back to normal, many refused to suspend their plans indefinitely and went ahead and took the plunge, although with a downsized wedding that was practically possible and that satisfied social distancing requirements and other norms of the times.  Jagan G and Gowri Gnanasambanthan fell in…

The mobility sector will witness a dramatic change post-lockdown. With physical distancing and cleanliness being emphasised, the number of people opting for personal transport could well go up in Chennai as in other cities.  While we have to learn to live with the virus we also need to ensure safe social distancing; given the likely crowds and surge in use of private vehicles, I wonder if there will be enough space for practising social distancing. The biggest problem post-lockdown is going to be gridlock. Studies in the past have shown that that Indians, on average, spend 7% of their day…