Civic

A Chennai citizen briefly recounts his observations during the launch of Arappor Iyakkam’s anti-corruption campaign and explains why he is hopeful about the impact that it could have.

Meeting on October 8th, planned by NGO Arappor Iyakkam and co-organized by citizens and other organizations, aims to launch a massive campaign by bringing together all those who wish to raise their voices against corruption in the state.

For five years, the NGO’s weekly grievance redressal camps have been effectively assisting ordinary citizens to address and solve problems pertaining to a range of issues, from property disputes to police inaction.

Businessman-turned-PIL advocate VBR Menon is on a mission to clean up the city system — from water bodies management to registration of unapproved plots. Akshatha M catches up with him.

A detailed audit of Chennai’s sewage woes and the reasons behind it reveals that the CMWSSB is woefully out of sync with the reality of sewage generation and treatment in the city. Prashanth Goutham provides a quick summary of the findings.

MP Jayavardhan assures Marundeeswarar Nagar youth that he will arrange for new equipment for the MGR-era gym that has served generations of the slum population in the area.

Chennai’s ranking in this year’s Swacch Survekshan is a dismal 235 out of 434. For the city to literally ‘clean up’ its act, there has to be a concerted effort to build more toilets, encourage their use and stop open defecation.

Citizens’ group Naam Virumbum Thamizhagam seeks redress for local problems by registering online complaints on the Chennai Corporation website. Their experience carries useful insights for all Chennaiites.

The Archaeological Survey of India has marked certain areas in Pallavaram as ‘protected’ and ‘ regulated’ after identifying them as megalithic sites that could aid research on ancient habitation.

Inspired by the Kotturpuram Tree Park and the guidance of the Nizhal team, members of the Dawoodi Bohra community start NABAAT, a movement to plant and nurture trees.

A Chennai citizen’s first person account of her experience at the RTO as she queues up to change her residential address on her driving licence.

In the second of her two-part series, the author looks at the primary reasons behind road accidents in Chennai and finds that citizens could play a big role in improving safety.