Laasya Shekhar | | Citizen Matters, Chennai

Why are auto drivers in Chennai struggling to survive despite CM’s promise of help?

June 30, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

There exists an Autorickshaw and Taxi Drivers’ Welfare Board under the Tamil Nadu Government. The CM also promised cash support, dry rations and oil. What went wrong?

The one step from Chennai Corporation that could have saved many street vendors from misery during COVID-19

June 25, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

Street vendors without identity cards suffered the worst during the lockdown. Could Chennai Corporation have prevented this through better planning and sensitisation?

Why is MTC paying reduced salaries, even to staff ferrying frontline COVID workers?

June 18, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

Hundreds of MTC workers protested in Chennai earlier this week, raising their voice against salary cuts and improper implementation of COVID-19 norms.

What are nurses, risking their lives in Chennai’s COVID wards, getting in return?

June 8, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

Most nurses in government hospitals are slogging for hours in high risk conditions today, and taking back meagre amounts as salary.

How every Chennaiite can help street vendors recover from the COVID-19 hit

June 6, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

As street vendors in the city slowly resume their business, here is how a few organisations are helping them, and you can too.

Love in the time of COVID-19 sparks off new trend: ‘Lockdown weddings’

May 29, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

Several Chennai based couples tied the knot even during the COVID-19 lockdown. How did they pull it off?

What is it like to be away from your breast-fed infant for 14 days? Ask a nurse in Chennai

May 26, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

As Chennai records rising numbers of COVID-19 cases everyday, nurses in the high risk category, including lactating mothers, have to report to duty for days at a stretch.

கோலிவுட் ஜூனியர் ஆர்டிஸ்ட்களின் நிலையை வெளிச்சத்திற்கு கொண்டு வந்த கோவிட்-19

May 20, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

கோலிவுட்டில் ஜூனியர் ஆர்டிஸ்ட்கள் பல படங்களில் சிறு பாத்திரங்களில் வந்திருந்தாலும், தற்பொழுது காவிட-19னால் வருமானம் இன்றி தவிக்கும் நிலையில் உள்ளனர்.

How will ACJ, SRM and other reputed Chennai colleges admit students in the time of COVID?

May 8, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

COVID-19 has changed the admissions procedure in reputed educational institutions in Chennai. We spoke to some of the colleges to know what they are planning.

COVID-19 exposes the reality of junior Kollywood artists in Chennai

May 5, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

Thousands of Kollywood artists are finding it difficult to even manage regular meals as COVID-19 has brought the entertainment sector to a standstill. But why don’t they have the support of the industry?

மீன்பிடிப்புக்கான ஊரடங்கு விலக்கு சென்னையின் மீனவ மக்களுக்கு உதவாதது ஏன்?

April 29, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

ஊரடங்கு உத்தரவு சென்னையின் மீன்பிடி சமூகத்தை மோசமாக தாக்கியுள்ளது. ஒரு சில வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் மற்றும் அற்ப வருமானம் மட்டுமே உள்ளதால், மீன்பிடி சமூகம் அன்றாடம் போராடி வருகிறது.

Do not stop press: Chennai printers lose business of 5.1 crore daily due to COVID

April 28, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

Printing provided booming business for the roughly 7000 small and 3000 established presses in Chennai. Today, lakhs associated with the industry are staring at a bleak future.

Why the lockdown exemption for fishing has brought little cheer to Chennai’s fisherfolk

April 21, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

Following the central relaxation of lockdown for fishing and other marine activity, authorities in Chennai took a concerted decision to allow a specified number of boats into the sea twice a week. But that has done little to ease the suffering of the fisher community; here’s why.

வீட்டுக் கண்காணிப்பில் உள்ளவர்களுக்கான முக்கிய உதவித் தொலைபேசி இணைப்புகள்

April 21, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

ஊரடைப்பானது வீட்டுக் கண்காணிப்பில் உள்ளவர்களுக்கிடையே மனச்சோர்வுக்கான காரணமாயுள்ளது. அத்தகைய மக்களை சென்றடையும் நோக்கில், சென்னைப் மாநகராட்சி ஒரு தொலைபேசி இணைப்பை உருவாக்கியுள்ளது. இதனை மக்கள் எவ்வாறு பயன்படுத்தலாம்?

Important helplines for the home quarantined in Chennai

April 10, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

Citizens across the city, and especially those in isolation, are reportedly facing many mental health issues in this 21-day lockdown imposed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some important helpline numbers for them, and also suggestions for friends, family and fellow citizens.