HUMAN RIGHTS | Citizen Matters, Chennai

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.

Lockdown woes: Uncertainty and fear grip domestic workers as the month ends

March 31, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

The future appears bleak and full of struggle for hundreds of domestic workers in Chennai, who have lost their jobs or been suspended without pay for the time being, because of the lockdown.

நீண்டநேர பணி, சுகாதார அபாயங்கள், வசதியின்மை: சென்னை போக்குவரத்து காவலர்களின் அன்றாட இன்னல்கள்

March 27, 2020 Laasya Shekhar

Long days with no breaks and lack of facilities such as restrooms make lives of traffic police very tough. Here’s a Tamil translation of our article on what ails those who keep our roads congestion-free.

Wake-up call: Read the writing in the Kolams

January 28, 2020 V Sriram

Chennai has never been afraid to stand up for what it feels is right. Eminent writer and heritage activist V Sriram decries the strong-arm tactics against peaceful, artistic expressions of dissent in the city, such as the recent one against Kolams carrying a message.

How government schemes can help domestic workers

December 5, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

Every domestic worker in our state is entitled to certain benefits under a handful of government schemes. Unfortunately, neither the workers nor their employers are aware of these. Here is an explainer.

A day spent with cops in one of Chennai’s all women police stations

August 6, 2019 M Varsha

Marked by long work hours, lack of support system and complex roles, what is life like for female police personnel in Chennai? We spent a day at the D1 All Women Police Station to learn more about the many challenges faced by these women in khaki.

Breaking taboos: Glimpses from the 11th Chennai Pride March

July 1, 2019 Mahesh V

June 30th marked the end of Pride Month, and the city celebrated it with the 11th Chennai Pride March. A citizen journalist captures moments of pride and solidarity that raise hopes of greater sensitivity and inclusion in the future.

Child rights activists conduct campaign to end child marriage

June 4, 2019 M Varsha

Victims of child marriage speak up to create awareness on the subject at a two-day meet conducted by Arunodhaya Centre for Street and Working Children in partnership with UNICEF

Meet Dr Jayakumar, MP-elect from Thiruvallur

May 28, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

Dr K Jayakumar of the INC unseated the incumbent two-time MP from ADMK to win Thiruvallur. He has previously served as the Namakkal MLA.

To fight sexual harassment of women, it is important to continue to talk: Chinmayi Sripada

May 27, 2019 Swati Amar

Chinmayi Sripada, one of the earliest and most prominent faces of the #MeToo movement in India, was recently denied permission to hold a protest in Chennai against the clean chit to CJI Ranjan Gogoi in a case of sexual harassment. In this interview, Chinmayi tells us why she chose to take this case up, and about her activism on this issue in general.

Meet Dayanidhi Maran, MP-elect from Chennai Central

May 25, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

Dayanidhi Maran won from the Central Chennai constituency for the third time. The former cabinet minister defeated rivals from PMK and MNM, assuring voters of bringing in new jobs and solving the water crisis.

North Chennai MP elect Kalanidhi Veeraswamy: “Kodungaiyur has to be shifted”

May 24, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

New MP Dr Kalanidhi Veeraswamy shares his plans for improving north Chennai, from closing the Kodangaiyur dump yard to decongestion of roads, from creation of jobs to infrastructure for fisherfolk.

Nearly a third of Kodungaiyur residents have difficulty breathing, but no action on waste dump

May 22, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

An in-depth survey by CAG revealed the presence of heavy metals at Chennai’s Kodungaiyur dump yard. As it has a direct, visible impact on public health, remediation of the dump yard is the need of the hour. Realisation, however, does not seem very close.

சென்னையில் சமூக சான்றிதழ் பெறுவது எப்படி?

May 15, 2019 Laasya Shekhar

பல அரசு திட்டங்கள் மற்றும் சலுகைகள் பெற சமூக சான்றிதழ் அவசியமாகும். சமூக சான்றிதழ் பெறும் வழிமுறைகளை இங்கு காணலாம்.

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.