GENRE: Voices Citizen Matters, Chennai

What will it take to make Chennai’s new waste management system a success?

October 14, 2020 K L Balasubramanian

The new waste contractor took over on October 1st. A member of an RWA engaged in pioneering waste management practices shares his thoughts on the new system.

A case for shifting the state capital from Chennai

October 12, 2020 V Sriram

The COVID-19 crisis has revived the debate over a shift of the TN capital to Madurai or Trichy. A look at some important factors that should guide the decision.

‘Why this street?’ A citizen questions the Mega Streets project

October 8, 2020 Navaneethan Santhanam

How were streets for the project chosen? What features made them good choices? What about public consultations? A citizen voices several important questions.

COVID imperative: Collective effort needed to ensure all kids have access to learning

October 3, 2020 Rinku Mecheri

E-learning in times of COVID-19 has brought out the stark divide between those who can afford gadgets and stable connectivity and those who can’t.

Another Gandhi Jayanti. Yet another journey towards a cleaner Chennai

October 2, 2020 Meenakshi Ramesh

An active SWM volunteer is cautiously hopeful that the new service provider will help Chennai improve its source segregation and solid waste management record.

Opinion: Chennai must not shift focus from testing as it enters Unlock 5.0

October 1, 2020 Varun Sukumar

The city’s COVID trajectory shows that it was able to contain spread only through sustained testing and isolation. It must stick to the strategy as it allows for phased reopening.

Knock knock, no response: The tale behind Chennai’s civic mess

September 23, 2020 Raghukumar Choodamani

Across the city roads are being dug up and relaid to lay pipes and cables. The relaying occurs mostly without milling. Despite complaints, authorities delay action.

Madras Week gift for Chennai – Third dirtiest city of India!

September 17, 2020 Varsha Venugopal

As Madras Week celebrations were underway in August came news of the city’s dismal ranking in the Swacch Survekshan 2020. What’s going wrong?

People-friendly cities: What Chennai can learn from Bengaluru

September 15, 2020 Aswini Ashok

Policies adopted by Bengaluru, with regard to transport, water, open spaces etc, hold crucial lessons for Chennai, says a dual citizen of the two metro cities.

கொரோனா பரவல் பூ வியாபாரிகள் வாழ்வில் எத்தகைய பாதிப்பினை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது?

September 11, 2020 Vadivu Mahendran

கொரோனா பரவல் மற்றும் ஊரடங்கினால் பூ விநியோகம் பெரிதும் பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்த மாதங்களில் பூ வியாபாரிகளின் வாழ்க்கை எப்படி இருந்தது?

In search of a shelter for a mentally ill person on the streets of Chennai

August 30, 2020 Raghukumar Choodamani

For months, an empathetic citizen has been trying to secure shelter for a mentally-ill individual in his neighbourhood, in vain. He writes about his experience.

A year without festivities and celebration: All that we’ve lost…and gained!

August 16, 2020 S Raghavan

The packed festival season between June and January will be a washout this year due to COVID-19, with major celebrations confined to homes.

“Chennai can grow all the fruits and veggies it needs locally by 2025”

August 14, 2020 Bhavani Prabhakar

Due to overreliance on other states and districts for food supply, Chennai was hit considerably during the lockdown. How can this change? Research by the Urban Design Collective has provided some answers.

“Cannot go back to our old ways”: Learnings from an NGO’s COVID battle

August 12, 2020 Aruna Natarajan

Bhoomika Trust’s work with people in need during the pandemic underlines the power of volunteerism and civil society. Managing Trustee Aruna Subramaniam talks about the learnings from the journey.

Should houses of COVID positive patients be boarded up as they are?

August 6, 2020 V Sriram

Presently, corrugated sheets are nailed all around the infected house or block, leaving an opening much like the eye of a needle! What if there is a need for emergency evacuation?