City: Chennai

‘I can’t risk passing on an infection to my baby’ ‘Giving a stranger’s milk to my baby feels weird’ ‘I will not be able to feed my baby if I donate the excess milk.’ These are a few misconceptions among new mothers that deter them from donating to human milk banks or accepting milk from them. To be fair, human milk banks are a relatively new concept in our cities.  The World Health Organisation recommends mothers worldwide to exclusively breastfeed infants for the child's first six months to achieve optimal growth, development and health.  But there are many mothers who…

With a stern gait and watchful eyes, Franvin Dani enters the D1 All Women Police Station at Poonamallee**. The station, which is just a few yards from the busy Poonamallee junction at Karayanchavadi, is a maroon and cream coloured building, just like most of the police stations in Chennai. It is a house that has been converted into a make-shift police station with a criminal cell, a room for the inspector, a typist's room and a waiting hall for the complainants. A posse of women constables rise up to wish their inspector and give her an update on the crucial…

Flood mitigation project gets central nod The Central government has given its nod for a comprehensive flood mitigation project and has recommended it to the World Bank for loan assistance. The project that is expected to take off in six months will help reduce the vulnerability of several localities to floods in different river basins, including lower Palar, Araniyar, and Kosasthalaiyar. Additional storage of nearly 4.76 thousand million cubic feet will also be created to cater to the drinking water needs of the city. Various structures, including check dams, recharge wells and sub-surface dykes, will be constructed in rivers as…

The newly introduced Dial for Water 2.0 scheme by the Metro Water Department is being billed as the panacea for long delays in  water supply, but it could be a classic case of the cure turning out to be worse than the disease. As per the new scheme, one has to make an on-line payment while booking is made.  This means that only those who have the wherewithal to make on-line payment can make the bookings. The new scheme says it will not allow a consumer to make further bookings if he does not confirm receipt of the previous supply…

“Valayapatti Murungakaa enhances the taste of your Sambar. A bundle of ten costs only Rs 40,” tempts a vendor, as she quickly spreads out drumsticks on a clean mat in the Koyambedu vegetable market. She greets fellow vendors and they exchange hopes of good business for the day.  As day breaks, this is a common scene at the market. Vegetables from across the country reach Koyambedu, one of Asia’s largest perishable goods market, before the first light of dawn. Vendors arrange the veggies on mats, write the daily price on a slate and call out to customers, often luring them…

Since the introduction of the Metro, Chennai’s transportation landscape has undergone quite a change. For those who use private transportation and MTC buses, traffic congestion is a serious issue. The reach or coverage of forms of public transportation such as suburban trains and metro are not extensive enough. Hence, for many, using a combination of private and public transport or more than one form of public transport is part of a daily routine. In a city that’s home to people of different socio-economic backgrounds, this mix is an opportunity as well as an incentive for smart city goals of making…

Welcome relief as Chennai records excess rainfall After the longest ever dry spell experienced by the city, the southwest rains have brought in much-needed relief for the city over the last couple of months. According to reports, Chennai has also recorded excess rainfall of over 50% since June. Though the rainfall has been in short isolated spells, the few short and heavy spells in the city and suburbs have statistically resulted in excess rainfall this southwest monsoon. The Meteorological department has forecast more rains during the nights in the coming days. Weather experts have also predicted more rains in the…

1984: Vyjayantimala Bali | 1989: Vyjayantimala Bali | 2019: Thamizhachi Thangapandian.  And it ends there, this tiny list of women MPs elected from Madras/ Chennai. It took 32 years since the first Lok Sabha election in 1952 to get our first woman MP and a thirty-year wait for the second. Vyjayanthimala Bali was elected from South Madras constituency on the first two occasions and Thamizhachi follows in her footsteps, elected from the same constituency (now South Chennai). This only reiterates the immediate need for passing the Women’s Reservation Bill in the parliament to ensure that at least 33 per cent of seats…

I had written the below article in January 2019 . With a serious concern on the Railway Properties being encroached upon I sent a petition to the Ministry of Railways and sought their intervention. The outcome I would say has been positive.. given the changes we are able to see on the ground. https://citizenmatters.in/citizen-dairy/disappearing-natural-waterways-21595 The Temporary Toilets which were installed near the Vyasarpadi Railway Station have been removed Before Now Concrete Wall is being Constructed by the Railways. Before  Now   Work in Progess While this is a very welcome development, I think more needs to be done to address…

Four months after the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) initiated serious action on waste reduction and management in the city, the civic body is beginning to see the results. According to statistics obtained from Chennai Corporation, the daily average of garbage collected in Chennai has fallen from 5098 Metric Tonnes (MT) in March to 4493 MT in June, a reduction of 605 MT. In other words, Chennai Corporation is stopping an average of 18000 MT of waste from reaching the already burdened landfills of Perungudi and Kodungaiyur every month. Roadmap to reduction Here are the five steps being followed by Chennai Corporation…