Articles by Laasya Shekhar

Laasya Shekhar is an independent journalist based in Chennai with previous stints in Newslaundry, Citizen Matters and Deccan Chronicle. Laasya holds a Masters degree in Journalism from Bharathiar University and has written extensively on environmental issues, women and child rights, and other critical social and civic issues. She tweets at @plaasya.

Royapuram constituency is one of the smallest constituencies in terms of land and population, comprised of localities such as Old Washermenpet, Royapuram and Basin Bridge.   A stronghold of the AIADMK party, Royapuram is developing fast as a commercial space. “A majority of the old-timers among the Royapuram electorate work in the Railways or the Port Trust. But with the flourishing of the export business and go-downs, members of the Marwadi and Muslim communities have also begun to settle here,” said Monish Kumar, a trader and a long-time resident of the constituency.  It is one of the least developed constituencies, characterised…

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Nominated by the Election Commission of India (ECI), a District Election Officer (DEO) supervises election-related work in the district. In other words, the officer is responsible for ensuring good polling percentage, preparation of booths, setting up the grievance redressal system in coordination with the ECI, and conduct of other election-related duties.  G Prakash, Commissioner of the Greater Chennai Corporation is the DEO of Chennai. Ahead of him lies the Herculean task of ensuring safe, smooth elections during an ongoing pandemic, as the city gets set to vote along with the rest of the state in the Assembly elections scheduled for…

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The residential market in Chennai has already begun to see a revival, after going through a pandemic-induced slump in 2020. The realty sector in Chennai has been witnessing steady growth since the third quarter ending September 2020, says a report from The Hindu. But how many among the new projects, with multi-storeyed apartments and offices, will actually go green? According to the Indian Green building Council, "a green building is one which uses less water, optimises energy efficiency, conserves natural resources, generates less waste and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a conventional building." It has been 18…

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A vertical pole stands tall at the Ashok Pillar junction, right next to the bus stop. Apart from a loudspeaker, a street lighting system and a CCTV camera fixed to the pole, it also sports a Wi-Fi router. Any member of the public can access free Wi-Fi in this area for half-an-hour at the speed of 2Mbps. That’s a smart pole for you! Chennai has 50 such smart poles.  Internet service for the 50 smart poles has been provided by Airtel, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. According to a senior official from Chennai Smart City Limited, the approximate…

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Off the busy NSC Bose Road opposite the Madras High Court building, run two streets parallel to each other. On any work day, you would find a stream of loadmen carrying wrapped packages on bullock carts and rickshaws on these streets, even as two-wheelers snake their way in and out and shoppers walk leisurely past. There's not much to distinguish the streets from any other commercial locality on Broadway just by the looks of it.  The real uniqueness lies elsewhere. These two streets -- Prakasam Salai and Baker Street host hundreds of wholesale optical stores.  From the cutting of lens…

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K K Nagar cycle track, the first dedicated space for non-motorised transport (NMT) users in Chennai was laid three years ago. Today, the track is just a pothole-filled road with several encroachments. The 17.5-km stretch from Sardar Patel Road to Island Ground is a demarcated cycle lane. But the lane gets narrower as one progresses and is even missing at a few places, leaving cyclists with no choice but to disembark and walk their cycles. Greater Chennai Traffic Police has also set up a temporary pop-up cycling lane at Kamarajar Salai, meant to be operational for two hours every morning.…

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Smart, enthusiastic and brave -- that’s how those who loved Pavithra (name changed) will always remember her. Pavithra had an army of friends. Always curious, she used to ask questions about everything under the sun. Bright, vivacious, energetic. Until a traumatic incident changed her life.  Four years ago, Pavithra was sexually assaulted by her neighbour -- a college-going student. The 13-year-old girl withdrew herself from the world. ‘Why did it happen to me?’ is the only question she asks her mother these days. “She used to be brave even as a child. The incident has shaken her so much that…

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Translated by Sandhya Raju அண்ணாநகரில் வசிக்கும் ஈ செந்தில் அவர்களுக்கு தன் சிறு வயதில் டவர் பார்க் பற்றிய அனுபவம் இன்றும் பசுமையாய் இருக்கிறது. இன்றும் அண்ணாநகரில் வசிக்கும் இவர், பன்னிரெண்டு அடுக்கு கட்டிட டவர் பார்கில் ஏறி இந்த பகுதி முழுவதையும் காண்பது இளம் பருவத்தில் தொலைக்காட்சியை விட சிறந்த அனுபவம் என்கிறார். இவர் நோவா லைஃப் ஸ்பேஸ் பிரைவேட் லிமிடட் எனும் நிறுவனத்தின் நிர்வாக இயக்குனர் ஆவார். குழந்தைகள் டென்னிகாய்ட் விளையாடுவதும், முதியவர்கள் நாட்டு நடப்பை அலசுவதும், நண்பர்கள் ஒன்று கூடி அரட்டை அடிப்பதும், தம்பதிகள் சுவாரஸ்யமாக பொழுதை கழிப்பதும் என அண்ணாநகர் டவர் பார்க் எல்லோருக்குமான ஒரு புத்துணர்ச்சி இடமாக திகழ்கிறது. ஆனால், செந்திலை போல் அவருடைய மகன் இங்கு செல்ல ஆர்வம் காட்டுவதில்லை. சில வருடங்களுக்கு முன், இங்கே ஒரு தற்கொலை சம்பவம் நிகழ்ந்ததை அடுத்து, டவர் மூடியே உள்ளது. பூங்காவில் உள்ள பசுமையான…

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How to enhance green cover in Chennai -- this is a question being mulled over for decades now. But despite various attempts in that direction over the past two decades, the conversation around greening Chennai really gained momentum only after Cyclone Vardah uprooted thousands of trees in December 2016. Organisations working on biodiversity conservation initiated research projects on the city’s shrinking greenery, the number of tree plantation drives rose sharply and nodal agencies of tree management in the city were seen teaming up with organisations and individuals to find effective solutions.  Nevertheless, there seems to be a huge disconnect between…

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Climbing the tower at Anna Nagar Park is easily one of the most exciting childhood memories for E Sendil Kumar to this day. For Sendil, Managing Director of Nova Lifespace Private Limited who still resides in Anna Nagar, the mesmerising view of the entire area from the 12-storied tower was a much better spectacle and brought greater thrill than all those television shows during his formative years. The Anna Nagar Tower Park was a quick and refreshing getaway from the city's hustle and bustle for many residents. With kids on Tennikoit rings, elders discussing politics, friends in a huddle and couples…

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