Arappor Iyakkam Citizen Matters, Chennai

உள்ளாட்சி அமைப்புகளுக்கு ஒம்பட்ஸ்மேன் தேவை: கோரிக்கையை வலியுறுத்தும் தன்னார்வ கூட்டமைப்பு

December 11, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

A coalition of civil society organisations has released a manifesto calling for reforms in urban and rural local bodies. Read all about their demands in a translation of our earlier article in Tamil.

Have an Ombudsman for local bodies, say citizens in their manifesto ahead of civic polls

December 10, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

With local body elections approaching, a coalition of civil society organisations has released a manifesto demanding various reforms in the local governance infrastructure of the state.

RTI data reveals that only 34% of Chennai roads are flood proof!

September 30, 2019 Ranga Prasad

A robust storm water drain network is the need of the hour for Chennai to prevent floods similar to that of 2015. But only 1894 km out of the total 5500 km of roads in the city were networked with storm water drains as of October 2018.

KeluChennaiKelu: Enough rain over four years, why then are we parched today?

June 27, 2019 Prashanth Goutham

Arappor’s planned protest this Sunday, June 30th, will discuss and ask pertinent questions to fix accountability for the city’s water, both among government and citizens.

What can Chennai learn from Kerala and Bengaluru on citizen participation in urban governance?

May 6, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

The divergent models followed by Kerala and Bengaluru to ensure participation of citizens in ward committees can hold vital learning for Chennai, where citizens seek a greater say in local governance.

Who should represent you in the 17th Lok Sabha?

April 10, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

In a little more than a week, Chennai goes to polls. What should your ideal candidate be like? What can he do for you and the constituency? Prashanth Goutham of Arappor Iyakkam has a few pointers for prospective voters.

Why your waste is causing sleepless nights in Ezhil Nagar and R R Nagar

February 27, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

Serious flaws in garbage collection and disposal, impractical solutions, and corruption to top it all — a public meeting discussed the chaotic waste management ecosystem in the city and how deeply it affects residents living near garbage dumps. However, citizens themselves hold the key to a better system.

Flowing water bodies become parched lands: Where did the water go?

February 20, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

Keezhkattalai and Pallavaram lakes, that once were primary sources of water for irrigation as well as domestic use, now suffer the effects of rampant encroachment, often sanctioned by governments themselves. Restoration work has also been moving at snail’s pace.

Wake up call for TNSIC: Crack down on inefficiency or remain a toothless body!

November 23, 2018 Laasya Shekhar

The lenient Information Commission in Tamil Nadu has failed to crack down on corrupt and careless Public Information Officers. Over 500 cases were pending enquiry at the end of 2017, up from 135 in 2015. How can the TNSIC change?

For a corruption-free Tamil Nadu, this is what we need immediately!

June 26, 2018 Prashanth Goutham

Way past the initial deadline and several reprimands by Courts, Tamil Nadu has still not constituted the Lokayukta. Now, as it stares at a new deadline, it’s a good time to recall the Model bill framed by NGO Arappor Iyakkam.

For the people, Of the people, By the people – the rise of citizen movements in Chennai

May 30, 2018 Sandhya Raju

Hemraj, a youth in his mid twenties, hails from Royapuram, in North Chennai, which is a neglected area in terms of development or infrastructure compared to other parts of the city. From street light malfunction

Chennai expansion to Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur: Why citizens should be concerned

April 28, 2018 Laasya Shekhar

The CMDA proposes to increase metropolitan area from 1,189 sq.km to a whopping 8,878 sq.km, making Chennai the largest urban region in the country after Delhi-NCR. Citizens, however, find little cheer in that and here’s why.

Three Chennai parks that made Kuppai Thiruvizha what it was

April 26, 2018 Kripa Ramachandran

Any inclusive dialogue at a city level requires public spaces that make participation possible and fun. The success of Kuppai Thiruvizha, that sought to create public awareness on issues of waste management in Chennai, brought a few such spaces into focus.

When government officials heard citizens out on sewage woes

April 11, 2018 Sandhya Raju

At the Sakkadai Thiruvizha organised by Arappor Iyakkam, officials from Chennai Corporation, PWD and CMWSSB met citizens from various neighbourhoods, who raised important questions on sewage and pollution of the city’s water bodies.

How a pond becomes a sewage dump: The Vannankuttai tale

April 6, 2018 Raghukumar Choodamani

Toilets by the shore, illegal sewage pipes draining into stormwater drains, debris dumped secretly — A citizen journalist’s trip to the Vannankuttai in GKM Colony reveals the sordid tale of how Chennai is losing its precious waterbodies.