Civic

Dr Kalanidhi Veeraswamy of the DMK has won from North Chennai. He is the son of veteran DMK leader and former state minister Arcot Veeraswamy. A doctor and graduate of Stanley Medical College, this is Kalanidhi’s political debut. Citizen Matters had interviewed Dr Kalanidhi during the election campaign in April. Here he talks about his plans for improving North Chennai, from closing the Kodangaiyur dump yard to decongestion, from creation of jobs to infrastructure for fisherfolk. What are the problems that people put forth to you over the course of your campaign? The information we got from assembly constituencies and…

Saritha M, a 26-year-old from Kodungaiyur suffered from skin infections for as long as she could remember. Multiple visits to hospitals would bring temporary respite, but permanent recovery remained elusive. "Two years ago, I shifted from Kodungaiyur after my marriage. Soon afterward, my skin infection was completely cured," said Saritha, concluding that the polluted groundwater in her locality was the reason behind the infections. "My doctor is certain that the infection had been caused by dangerous chemicals in the water. Even today, if I stay at my mother's house for more than ten days, the infection reappears. It takes a…

Do you know how much electricity common household appliances consume when you use it? What is the reason behind your skyrocketing electricity bills in the summer? How can you use the appliances in your house in an optimum way that in turn can bring your bills down? Minsarathai Semippom, an initiative focused on energy efficiency and conservation at a household level, can now help you figure out the answers to these questions. The programme is being run the Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG), in partnership with Technology Informatics Design Endeavour (TIDE) and supported by Societe Generale Global Solution…

Around 50 schools in the city await recognition With less than a month to go for the commencement of the next academic year, 50 plus schools in and around Chennai are yet to be recognised, facing shutdown in the event of not being able to secure recognition by the end of this month. The schools who have applied for CBSE and State Government recognition must get the required approvals this month, failing which they will have to be closed down. According to the Directorate of Education, a committee has been formed to update status and all private schools have been…

KSPCB action against 331 establishments The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has slapped notices and cases against 331 industries, establishments, apartments and utilities for flouting sewage and effluent treatment norms. These establishments will be monitored for their compliance with green norms. A penalty formula under the ‘polluter pays’ principle will also be prepared against them. The establishments had been inspected by the KSPCB based on an August 2018 order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which in turn was following up on a Supreme Court order. KSPCB has inspected 5656 plants in the state over the past six months,…

The silly season is upon us. It is an endless cycle that repeats every few years. It is the season when we, the people of India, get breathless with excitement: “You must vote! It is the sacred duty of every citizen in a democracy to vote.” “If you don’t vote, then you are not a patriotic citizen, and you lose your right to have a public voice.” “Your vote is important. The person / party that you elect will frame policies that will determine the future of our country.” It is the season when we pull out from the dusty…

Cyclone Fani blew in and out of Orissa nearly two weeks back. But relief and rehabilitation of lakhs of affected people in Puri, Cuttack and Bhubaneshwar is yet to pick up pace. Pitching in, mainly in Bhubaneshwar, with the aim of getting local communities involved in the restoration works is Civil Society Responds to Fani (CSRF), an initiative by a group of state-based not-for-profit organisations. While the state and central government’s disaster response teams are busy clearing roads and rebuilding the electricity and other infrastructure networks, CSRF volunteers are trying to mobilise residents to participate in the work being done…

Translated by Sandhya Raju சென்னையில் மென்பொருள் பொறியாளராக வேலைக்கு வரும் முன், மேகலா குமாரியின் வாழ்க்கைத்தரம் சவால்கள் நிறைந்ததாகவே இருந்தது.  ஏழ்மையான குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்த இவர், தனது படிப்பை தொடர இளம் வயதிலேயே பகுதி நேர வேலைக்கு செல்லும் நிர்பந்த்ததில் இருந்தார்.  சமூக சான்றிதழ் பற்றி அவர்  அறிந்திருந்தால் கடினமான சூழலில் வளர நேர்ந்திருக்காது. "என்னிடம் சமூக சான்றிதழ் இருந்திருந்தால், கல்வி கட்டணத்தில் சலுகை கிடைத்திருக்கும், இலவச சீருடை, புத்தகப்பை கூட கிடைத்திருக்கும்" என்று கூறும் மேகலா தன் பட்டப்படிப்பு போது தான் சாதி சான்றிதழை பெற்றிருக்கிறார். மேகலா போன்று ஆயிரக்கணக்கானோர் சமூக சான்றிதழின் முக்கியத்துவத்தை பற்றி இன்னும் அறியாமல் தான் இருக்கிறார்கள். மிகவும் பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட, பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட சமூகத்தை சேர்ந்தவர்கள், பழங்குடி இனத்தவர்கள் ஆகியவர்கள் அரசின் சலுகைகளை பெற சமூக சான்றிதழ் எனப்படும் சாதி சான்றிதழ் மிகவும் அவசியம். மத்திய மற்றும் மாநில அரசுகளில் இப்பிரிவனர்களுக்காக ஒதுக்கப்பட்டுள்ள வேலை வாய்ப்பினை…

Chennai cops prepare to tackle biochemical threats With technical support from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), the Chennai Police are equipping themselves to detect any type of sabotage attempts using chemical, radioactive or biological materials. The Mobile Radiation Detection System (MRDS) devices fitted in the patrol vehicles will sound an alarm with red light and a message will be directly sent to a control centre to be set up with the help of BARC. Their teams will then sanitise the locality. The device has been fitted in 60 patrol vehicles initially. The machines have been installed across the country in police…

Sewage and rainwater to be diverted from Bellandur, Varthur lakes A committee appointed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed officials to build temporary channels to redirect rainwater and sewage that enter Bellandur and Varthur lakes through stormwater drains (SWDs). The committee for rejuvenation of Bellandur lake is headed by former Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde. After a review meeting, Hegde said that the water had to be drained out before desilting the lake, which was the first step in lake rejuvenation. Civic agencies have been asked to take steps to prevent any resultant health-related issues downstream, such as mosquito…