The Word edition 10 page 1_Layout 1 4/2/2018 10:14 AM Page 1

Volume No 18 Issue No 10 March 29, 2018 LAB JOURNAL OF THE ASIAN COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM New scheme to PwD struggle for theatre fight TB disability card in a decline Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Row over slum housing project Where are the Moolakothalam housing project for Adi Dravidars is to be built over graves ASHWIN MANIKANDAN Monday. missing girls? However, Saiba, a 40 year old Adi “But yes, overall in the last two de - CHENNAI: Vijay Bhaskar, a free - Dravidar living in Katpada Slums HRIDKAMAL ROY cades girl children are not seen as bur - lance civil engineer, discovered a for the last 20 years, asks “We have densome”, she added. couple of months ago that the been living here for the last 60 CHENNAI: The sex ratio in the gen - Indian Council for Children Welfare Slum Clearance Board years. During monsoons, the slum der biased districts of Tamil Nadu has (ICCW), Chennai which worked du - (TNSCB) had bulldozed his fat - gets filled with up to three feet of gone down from 923 to 911 in spite ring 1992-2003 on the Cradle Baby her’s grave at the Moolakothalam water. Do these political parties of the Cradle Baby Scheme under Scheme in Usilampatti, Madurai after Mayanam (crematorium and burial standing against the project value which unwanted infants, mostly fe - it was re-initiated in 2001 stated in its ground) to clear the land for buil - the dead more than the living?” male, were dropped off in Govern - report that it was able to bring female ding a housing colony for slum According to the locals here, in ment-designated centres. infanticide under control in that area. dwellers. compliance with the Slum Clea - According to activisits, there can be Vimi Jony, Information Officer of On September 15, 2017, TNSCB rance Act (1956), the TNSCB had two possible reasons for it: One being ICCW, Chennai said, “We did witness identified 11.5 acres of land from planned to relocate the residents of the growing acceptance of the girl improvement in Usilampatti. In Cud - the 26 acres originally belonging to the slum to a housing facility in Pe - child and the other being increasing dalore also we have carried out work the Moolakothalam Mayanam as rumbakkam, but after conducting female foeticide preceded by illegal on this scheme and we could see im - unused, and a slum-housing project various surveys, the decision to use sex determination tests. provement there too.” was planned to resettle an Adi-Dra - the burial ground for the housing Till recently this scheme was accep - “When I found out about the decline vidar (Dalit group) community of project was taken. ted widely. In 2009 Salem had recei - in the sex ratio even I was confused. 1044 residing in the adja - Nagaraj, a resident of the slum, ved 745 infant children of whom 36 Maybe the problem has risen up cent Katpada Slums. says “We are not represented by were boys. But the number has drop - again. There might be several illegal The Corporation soon issued a It remains to be seen if these slum dwellers get their new houses ASHWIN MANIKANDAN any political party. The makkal of ped to an extent where the facility in ultrasound clinics for sex determina - no-objection circular claiming that MDMK Chief the slum came together and decided Cuddalore received only one infant tion operating in the interiors. There the land in concern did not en - TNSCB was left unheeded. Thalamuthu Nadar. MDMK leader Vaiko has been vocal in his protest to protest against Vaiko. He has his girl last year. might even be some in Chennai also.” croach any of the existing graves “I wrote to AIADMK, DMK, Vaiko, when he came to know that against the housing project. own agenda in denying us an op - S. Anandhi, a gender expert, said, “We worked very hard in 17 villa - and proceeded with demarcating it Congress and others in the hope the burial site was in danger, went “People might come in large portunity of having a decent hou - “As far as the districts of Cuddalore ges of Usilampatti block and brought with a steel fence. that someone would stand with my and visited them,” says Arunagiri, numbers and might assault me, but sing facility.” and Ariyalur are concerned the go - about a sharp decline in the incidence “I first visited the site in January cause. The Moolakothalam Maya - Vaiko’s Secretary. I would not care, Moolakothalam Solomon, an 11th Standard stu - vernment did help to improve the sex of female infanticide in 2002-03 com - and realized that the proposed hou - nam is the oldest burial ground in T Jeevan, District Secretary burial ground is connected with the dent at the slum says, “Our schools ratio. Strict penalty for female foeti - pared to 1991-92. Even in places like ses would be built right on top of Chennai and has a lot of heritage (), MDMK, says sentiments of the soil of Tamil are here, there is a hospital nearby, cide and infanticide too helped. With Salem and Dharmapuri acceptance of burial sites including that of my fat - attached to it. I felt that it was only “We are not against the develop - Nadu and none would be allowed our playgrounds are here. Our pa - the 2011 census The alarming decline the scheme could be seen but some - her’s,” Bhaskar says. a matter of time before people took ment of the poor, but the housing to take away an inch of the land,” rents and grandparents have been of sex ratio in these districts in the how the brutal practice might have The civil engineer sent out detai - notice and stood up for the issue.” projecthis just an agenda of the he had told reporters after a group living here for decades now.” 2011 census led to various state ac - sprung up again. Nothing can be pro - led letters about the encroachment “The Moolakothalam Mayanam builders to destroy the burial site in of Adi Dravidars from Katpada “We can’t possibly shift to Pe - tions that did help to curb this trend. perly said until some research is to various party representatives of has tombs of great anti- mar - collusion with the Corporation to Slum staged a protest outside rumbakkam now which is 50km If the state wills it can show the way.” done”, said Vimi. the area after his complaint to tyrs of this land like Natarajan and increase the real estate prices.” MDMK party office in on away.” Purohit to rethink ‘Budget not used for SC students’ Protest against on district visits DEBDUTTA MITRA Sterlite plant DEBDUTTA MITRA parts of the state if he feels that the CHENNAI: Members of the Student’s DEBOLINA BISWAS government is not doing its job,” Federation of (SFI) and Ambedkar CHENNAI: DMK president MK said Stalin adding that it was only Kalvi Centenary Movement (AKAM) CHENNAI: Vedanta’s company, Sterlite Copper, Stalin announced that Tamil Nadu after the party raised the issue that were apprehended by the police for pro - along with the government has misled the Madras High Governor Banwarilal Purohit had the governor agreed to rethink his testing without permission against the Court by making false representation of its location and assured him that he would rethink plans. education budget allocation for obtaining the environmental clearance without public his plans to visit various parts of the Stalin also said that though he was SC/ST/OBC college students. consultation, said representatives of ‘People’s Move - state to review various projects and satisfied in meeting the governor, Around 700 students from various col - ment Against Killer Sterlite’(PMAKS) at the Press Club schemes. there should be an official leges of Tamil Nadu protested in on Wednesday, March 28. The DMK had raised the issue at statement from the State on March 27 stating that the state go - Following intense protests in Thoothukudi on March the Raj Bhavan here on Tuesday, Government or Purohit himself that vernment hadn’t utilized the fund of Rs. 24, Chennai Solidarity Group released a report titled March 27. the purpose of the visit wasn’t for a 1546 crore allocated by the Central Go - ‘Toxic Conspiracy: How Governments are helping Ster - Speaking to the press, Stalin said review. vernment for the Post- Matric Scholars - lite violate the Law’ stating that the company’s project that the Governor claimed that he Purohit had invited him and party hip scheme. site is not within the existing 1038 acre SIPCOT (State wasn’t conducting reviews but only secretary Durai Murugan to discuss “In the recent state budget, deputy chief Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu) In - visiting parts of the state to check the appointment of TM Sastry as minister O Paneerselvam claimed that dustrial Complex. It is contained within a separate 1616- on the development. the Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil over 8 lakh students have benefited from acre of land which is proposed to be developed as a “We told him that we won’t Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law the scheme which is false,” said Ma - standalone Tuticorin Industrial park (TIP) by SIPCOT, oppose his visits for reviewing the University which was being riyappan, State President (SFI) adding Police detained around 400 people DEBDUTTA MITRA approval for which has not been obtained. opposed by the DMK citing that the students had not received appli - The report called for an immediate halt of illegal cons - that his had not been cation forms for the scheme to be imple - been trying to convince the ministers to increased for the students,” added Chan - truction at the site and prosecution of the officials of recommended by the Vice- mented. He also said that after the death consider our demands to which they said dramohan. Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), Minis - Chancellor Search of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, the they will look at it but they haven’t done However, the protest was broken up by try of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Committee. EPS government had reduced the alloca - anything yet,” said Chandramohan, a the police who claimed that the protest (MoEF), SIPCOT and Sterlite who are guilty of perjury. “Though the governor tion for the scheme without the approval member of AKAM adding that they also was being done without government per - It also called on the District Collector to enforce the mas - accepted the fact that Sastry of the state assembly due to which 1.5 tried writing to the MPs who just gave mission. ter plan. had faced disciplinary action lakh students have been affected. them fake assurance that they would try “Along with protesting without any re - MoEF granted environmental clearance to Sterlite on in the past, he said that a The protesters demanded that the go - convincing the Prime Minister. “Out of quisite permission, they were picketing January, 2009 exempting public consultation. The MoEF probe by a special committee vernment which called for reducing the Rs 4000 crore meant for the education and were planning to lay siege in front of argued that the 1200-tonne-per-day copper smelter com - DMK President M.K. Stalin meets had given him a clean chit,” the funds be revoked and the old orders of SC/ST/OBC, the central government the Secretariat. So, we have detained plex was located within the existing SIPCOT industrial Governor Banwarilal Purohit said the DMK President, be implemented. cut down Rs. 1000 crore in the recent them until further action,” said Pravesh complex. TNPCB followed suit and granted consent in DEBDUTTA MITRA M.K. Stalin. “For the last seven months, we have Union Budget and due to which the fee Kumar, DCP ( District). 2016 helping the company commence construction . A public hearing for the TIP project held in Thoothu - kudi on January 25, was cancelled due to public opposi - tion. According to the report SIPCOT has, however, concealed the fact that it has already allotted 324-acres to Sterlite within the proposed TIP. The environmental impact assessment for the project does not mention or Chennai’s 91-year-old legacy assess the impacts of Sterlite’s copper smelter. Exemp - GOWRI S. “We have trained calligraphers combination of all of the above. “I am just maintaining the hierar - tion from public consultation under the EIA Notification, working for us on a part-time basis. Apart from these, advertisements chy. From the beginning, calli - 2006, is available only to projects coming up within in - CHENNAI: On the busy and dusty There are three reporters who write take up a considerable space.. graphy was used right? So, I don’t dustrial estates that are approved. Triplicane High Road, is a quaint the news within the deadline of 1 “There is no voice for the Muslim wish to change that which might “If Sterlite’s proposed copper smelter complex will office space which is currently un - p.m. From 3 p.m., the writing community in the South. This was actually disappoint our readers. In take total installed capacity of copper production in dergoing renovation. Inside sits a starts,“ said Arifulla. The newspa - the main reason behind my ’s fact, the calligraphic content is one Thoothukudi to more than 8,00,000-tonnes-per-annum, calligrapher, carefully writing per accepts content from freelan - decision to operate from Chennai,” of the main reasons why readers that would make this the world’s largest smelter com - down the headlines on a small cers as well. The arduous task of said Arifulla. The cur - prefer this paper,” continued Ari - plex, and the largest to come up within a densely popu - piece of white paper. This will later writing a whole page takes two rently reaches 21,000 people across fulla who also said that the news - lated urban area. The project site is in close proximity to be copied onto the and hours. If mistakes are made, the en - the country, according to Arifulla. paper has a strong readership in the Kumareddiyapuram residential area,” said social activist printed. This is the office of The tire page has to be redone. However, the advent of techno - northern states as well. and representative of Chennai Solidarity Group, Nitya - Musalman, India’s only hand-writ - Some reporters double up as wri - logy does not scare the team of The The main source of revenue nanda Jayaraman. ten paper currently in circulation. ters. “I have been working here for Musalman who firmly believe that comes from advertisements Unless Residents of the Thoothukudi town came to the streets The 91-year-old evening 35 years now and have been a resi - their paper is here to stay. Accor - the advertisements demand other - on March 24, demanding the closure of Sterlite’s copper daily which is published from dent of Chennai all my life,” said ding to Arifulla, there are a lot of wise, the paper is completely writ - smelter plant which is allegedly polluting the air and the Chennai, has been in circulation Rehman Hussain, the chief reporter technical difficulties in making a ten in Urdu and is printed in black ground water. throughout the country, since 1927 of who also writes. digital version of the newspaper. and white. Fatima Babu, representative of PMAKS, said, “Once and costs 75 paise per copy. “The National, international and local “Since we use calligraphy, the di - The 91-year-old legacy of the officials had come to inspect the ground water and we paper was started by my grandfat - news along with editorials and ad - gital version will not be able to re - newspaper is bolstered by the offered them a glass of water from the site of inspection. her, Syed Azathulla and after he ex - vertisements, are covered in the place the hand-written version, “ team’s devotion to the job. This, ac - They did not even touch it.” pired, my father took it up. Now, four pages which are stylistically said Arifulla who claims that they cording to Arifulla, also serves as “The National Environmental Research Institute En - since 2008, I have been the editor,” written using calligraphy. While the have not lost any readers in the last the reason behind the existence of gineering (NEERI) reports show that the plant did pol - said Syed Arifulla, the current edi - first page consists of local and na - couple of years. He added that the paper despite the intervention lute the environment through emissions,” said tor of The Musalman. The first tional news, the second page covers changing the paper into a digital of technology. Jayaraman. copy of this Urdu daily is hand- editorials and international news. form might affect the business ad - (RIght) An issue of Meanwhile responding in newspaper advertisements written using calligraphy which is The third page has quotes from versely as a large percentage of The Vedanta has denied allegations that the Sterlite plant was then mass produced. Quran while the fourth page is a Musalman’s readers are old people. The Musalman GOWRI S. causing pollution in the area. The Word edition 10 page 2_Layout 1 4/2/2018 10:23 AM Page 1

THE WORD CHENNAI 29 March, 2018 2 CITYSCAPE

WNorled Twube rcsulocsihs Deay:m Moree e mtpoha sifs iong nhutrittio nT aBnd bhettaer erqduipemer nt AYESHA ROY “This scheme will mainly focus on upon being diagnosed and not the private sector doctors who will be lower economic classes. They take CHENNAI: This year’s scheme an - made aware to collect details of Facilities under the new Scheme it as it comes and come here to get nounced on World Tuberculosis bank accounts of the patients and treated.” day (March 24), gave yet another then they can register the case on Tablets to Senior Treatment Will be used for recording People from other states also come push to the government’s TB free the Nikshay app. It will bring all Supervisors and TB lab patient data on treatment and here for treatment for the “facilities Chennai initiative of October 2017. the public and private sector pa - supervisors medicines are up to the mark and doctors are And the ‘nutritional assistance’ tients together on a single plat - well trained,” said Saifullah, who scheme is one of them in associa - form,” added Mrs. Lavanya. has come from Andhra Pradesh to Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid tion with the NGO Research Group Nikshay app is a web based solu - 2 medical vans with gene get his brother treated. Panel on Minorities and human dignity at MIDS EISHA NAIR for Education and Advocacy for tion developed by National Infor - expert machines Amplification Test (CB-NAAT) But “four doctors have visited us in Community Health (REACH) and matics Centre (NIC) for monitoring machines for faster detection the five days since the admission of National Institute for Research in TB patients under Revised Natio - my brother as they changed the TB. nal Tuberculosis Programme wards. He has been diagnosed with The new scheme will come into ef - (RNTCP) effectively. (since 2015) and set up the Naks - are referred to the Government both HIV and TB. We feel the doc - Workshop on fect from April 1. Money would be Tamil Nadu passed a gazette noti - hatra Centres. In these centres, the Hospital of Thoracic Medicine lo - tor who attended to us first would directly transferred to the patients’ fication making non-reporting of private sector proprietors will lend cated in (TB Sanato - know the case better,” he said. bank account in the hope that they tuberculosis (TB) cases, a punisha - a room to PPMs to set up a clinic rium- State owned since 1928). “The patients from Tamil Nadu are minority rights can consume nutritious food. “TB ble offence, with even a jail term. for X-ray and sputum test and re - Dr. Vidya, MD in Chest Medicine given free treatment whereas the EISHA NAIR Hanna Arendt, Giri said that all mi - patients are advised to take protein “But this was not given much cog - cord data, counsel them (Counsel - at the hospital said, “most of the admission fee for patients from norities were doomed to failure and rich diet like pulses, jaggery, dates, nizance,” she said. lor here is known as nanban people from lower economic clas - other states is Rs. 1500. Sputum CHENNAI: Frontier Gandhi, insecurity because of the authorita - egg and milk,” said Dr. Lavanya, “The choice is left to the doctors meaning friend), and refer to the re - ses take the course of medicine and urine test are free where as a Abdul Ghaffar Khan’s son, Khan rian nature of State sovereignty. TB programme officer in Greater (private sector) whether they want quired doctors,” she said. very lightly and leave in between. test like X-ray (mandatory test) Abdul Wali Khan, was once asked However the solution lay in the in - Chennai Corporation. “We need to to notify for Public Private Mix “Government hospitals and urban This makes them drug resistant and is charged Rs. 20 from Tamil Nadu whether he was a Pakistani first, or clusion of all identities through self trust patients that they would utilise (PPM) Coordinator to supervise primary health centres (104 out of then we have to restart the course.” patients and Rs. 90 from outside a Muslim, or a Pathan. He respon - development and responsibility. the money efficiently. This will them. REACH has been given the 120) are equipped to diagnose and In case of the social stigma that pa - patients,” said his uncle, Manima - ded that he had been a Pakistani for “I was doing my fieldwork in Ke - help them compensate for their responsibility to collect informa - treat TB,” she added. tients face, “it is mostly the upper ran, who lives in , in the last 35 years, a Muslim for the rala with a Christian organization wages during days of treatment.” tion on patients and notify weekly TB patients who are terminally ill educated class that feel excluded Chennai. last 1800 years and a Pathan for the and I told my colleague that all last 5000 years. your employees are Christian. He This anecdote was narrated by V asked me in turn how many Chris - Suryanarayan, an expert on South tians can you find in a Ramakrishna and South-East Asian studies, at a mission institution? It was my sug - Burn victims seminar in the Madras Institute of gestion that his institution employ Daily wage film employees Developmental Studies (MIDS) on some non-Christians so we could Tuesday. move forward with structural social get hotline “We have multiple identities which transformation,” said Giri. must coexist harmoniously or we However, according to the next face tensions in nation building,” speaker, Rüdiger Korff, Professor, bear the brunt of strike said Suryanarayan at the seminar ti - Center for South Asian Studies, at HARIPRASAD RADHAKRISHNAN after demonetization, defer the tume designers’ businesses have tled ‘Minorities and Human Dig - University of Passau in Germany, payment till up to 20-30 days. also been hurt by the strike. nity: Contemporary Challenges of identities are merely constructs. CHENNAI: The nearly 23,000- duction -- contractual or package This is creating a big crunch. “Although I work on a package- Self-Development, Inclusion of the “Both minorities and majorities are strong workforce dependent on deal and daily-wage, the latter When small budget films can basis for movies, I have 10 as - Other, Social Transformations and made in a double process. On one the Kollywood industry is facing has been the worst hit. settle their payments immedia - sistants working with me on Planetary Realizations,’ covering hand, there is a process by which a crunch as the strike between “It is becoming increasingly dif - tely, why don’t the big houses do daily wages. They are suffering perspectives from Malaysia, India, the collective somehow creates it - the Tamil Film Producers Coun - ficult for the people dependent the same?” said Senthilkumar, a lot because of the strike,” said Italy, Northern Ireland and Myan - self based on imagined similarities. cil (TFPC) and the digital ser - on the cinema to survive. We president of the Cine & TV Out - D. Venkatesh, a costume desig - mar. This can be whatever you wish— vice providers has stretched over earn somewhere between Rs. door Lightmen Union, which ner. The designers also do not “Post colonial states are all artifi - take for example smokers versus two weeks. This adds to the exis - 850-950 a day. The employment has over 1500 members. take retail orders and work al - cial creations. Instead of uniting non-smokers. For smokers, smo - The German President’s wife Elke ting woes of the industry which is also erratic. Add to that, there Many of the employees feel a most exclusively in the film in - people speaking the same language, king is civilized, and the act of non- Budenbender inaugrates the 24/7 has not been very rewarding for are strikes. Come April 1, we’ll sense of inertia after having wor - dustry. and following the same religion, smoking may have started in fascist hotline its wage-labourers. have to pay the bills. I think ta - ked in the field for several years. To bring something of an equi - we have Nagas in India but none in Germany. So smoking becomes an After the indefinite strike was king loans is the only option,” A. Vikkinraj, 62, a member of table setup of employment, em - Myanmar, in India, Tamils anti-fascist act. And what distin - DEBOLINA BISWAS called, the production of more said Maries, who works on daily the Cine & TV Lightmen Union, ployees take turns on in Sri Lanka. And in such States, guishes humans from animals? — than 35 movies, both big-ticket wages as crane operator and said: “Some work as security assignments, especially among minorities are vulnerable and per - smoking ? So if I smoke, I express CHENNAI: Chennai based organisation, In - and low-key, came to a grinding lightman. guards or as domestic help. But production assistants. “If so - secuted. For example, in Myanmar, my level of civilization. At the ternational Foundation for Crime Prevention halt. The employees in the allied The lightmen also flag other pro - at this age, it is not possible for meone gets to go on an assign - a Tamil child joining school, has to same time there are imagined diffe - and Victim Care (PCVC), launched a national businesses, especially the daily- blems with their payment. “Big us to get into other professions.” ment this week, someone else is take a , a Tamil rences — where collectives are support line (044-43111143/ 8001027282) for wage workers -- such as junior production houses, especially The makeup artistes and the cos - given the opportunity next woman with a government job can - created from the outside, based on women burn survivors and domestic violence artistes, lightmen, cameramen, time,” said S.R. Chandran, pre - not go to work in a sari,” said Su - constructed differences,” said victims, here on Sunday, March 25. drivers and a host of other tra - sident of the Cine & ryanarayan. Korff. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's desmen -- have been left scram - T.V. Production Assistants The introductory talk given by the Korff advocated the shift of focus wife Elke Budenbender inaugurated the bling. Union. On the flip side, under chair, MIDS professor, Dr. Ananta from minorities to majorities and round-the-clock hotline which is to provide The Film Employees Federation the arrangement, some people Kumar Giri, posited that identities discuss identities in terms of uni - counselling, legal awareness and information of South India (FEFSI) which may have to wait longer for as - were like trees – they had roots. versal human freedoms and rights. to victims, their families and care-takers. Cal - represents a total of 23 unions signments. “Wherever we are in Tamil Nadu, “Let us discuss freedom through lers would be directed to nearby hospital burn has stood in unison with the pro - However, Mr. Chandran, who Westfalia or South Tyrol… we can - new forms of economic redistribu - wards. ducers in the issue of the virtual was present at the meetings bet - not dissociate ourselves from our tion, new forms of administration Registered in 2001, PCVC has been co-foun - print fee (VPF), when the pro - ween the producers council and placement in these locales. All our which does not control but facilita - ded and is managed by Dr. Prasanna Gethu. duction and post-production ac - the digital service providers, identities -- minority or majority, tes, and new forms of democratiza - The organisation has a recovery and healing tivities were halted on March 16. sees light at the end of the tun - emerge with this fundamental tion. We don’t need to discuss any centre in and is associated with While there are two types of em - Nearly 23000 daily-wage film employees have been nel. “The strike may be called earth,” he said. more culture. We need to discuss Chennai's Medical College. ployee engagements in the pro - affected by the strike MOVIES.SULEKHA.COM off by April 1 or 2,” he said. Quoting political philosopher more politics and practice,” he said. "To prevent infection while being treated at the burn ward in the hospital, we provide dis - posable sheets. Egg shots, protein-rich sup - plements and nutritious food is provided to the patients," said Swetha Shankar, psycho-social manager at PCVC. Grey Water: A viable solution to save water "We help the burn survivors and domestic vio - lence victims by offering skill-based training AYESHA ROY tan Development Authority (CMDA) Prasuna, a resident of Sri Nagar Colony water to the poor areas.” In rest of the water expert, Thillaiampalam Sivarama - and economically empowering them by hel - and students and conducted workshops said “all you need is a little bit of main - areas, people need to buy water once the lingam. ping them find jobs," said Swetha. CHENNAI: Chennai is not meant to face to encourage people to take up a cost ef - tenance to keep the system running.” summers start to peak and water tables He started a project of planting 300 trees Survivors have been previously trained in ba - water scarcity with five lakes, three ri - fective way of saving potable water by “We tried the same on the left side of the go down in reservoirs. in the coastal area of Besant Nagar back kery management for six months, in collabo - vers and several reservoirs. But no one this method. compound but trees from adjacent com - Water Supply and Se - in 2002. ration with Mr. M. Mahadevan of Hot Breads. seems interested in tackling the problem “People do not realize the value of reu - pounds hinder sunlight and hence the wage Board (CMWSSB) has five treat - The city needs 830 MLD of water each At the end of the sixth month, 15 were placed in easy and cost-effective ways. sing grey water and it is more fashiona - plants are not growing. So we are using ment plants with the capacity to treat 486 day out of which 200 MLD comes from in Writer's Cafe and Loyola College's canteen. One of the many ways in which Chen - ble for them to buy water from tankers the water currently for flushing only,” million litres per day (MLD). desalination plants in Nemmeli and Min - Two of them are still under training. naiites can save water is to recycle grey and in bottles,” said Indukanth. she added. Having authored the book, Self-reliance jur and efforts are currently under way to "Almost 90 per cent of domestic violence water (water from bathrooms and kit - “Instead of sending the water from bath - “As the population increases, the capa - in Water, Indukanth added that Chen - set up a third plant which will provide cases are reported as accidents and the morta - chen). rooms, washing machines and kitchen city needs to be upgraded and the cost naiites who took up recycling, sent the 150 MLD of water. “If the whole city lity rate of burn victims is as high as 80 per “The water is sterile, has just soluble (constitutes 60 percent of city sewage keeps increasing in treating water,” left out water through lorries in night and needs water only businesses can supply it cent," said Swetha. "Psycho-social and social salts of soaps.” said Indukanth S Ragade, water) to the Sewage Treatment Plants added Indukanth. dump it in water bodies. overnight,” said Sivaramalingam. rehabilitation is the immediate need of these a pioneer and expert in grey water recy - (STPs), which are a costly affair for the Chennai Corporation has no such agenda These projects are so easy that “one just “Grey water is the biggest asset if recy - victims," she added. cling here. State, residents can themselves build of building such sumps or wells said needs a plumber, a storage tank and some cled. Trees can be easily grown and wa - PCVC receives financial help from individual After his success in Sri Nagar Colony, in shallow dug wells or sumps to store this Priya, Assistant Senior Manager in the pipes and the recycled water can be used tered instead of pouring it into the sea donors in Chennai. Vidiyal or 'new dawn' is , 16 years ago, he approached water and redirect it to the toilets for flus - Urban Works Department. “Instead RO for the garden. This can be done by even and rivers,” he said, adding that it c be a their latest flagship project. builders, architects, Chennai Metropoli - hing or gardening,” he added. plants have been set up to supply potable 10-15 year old children,” said another worthy fight against global warming IIT researcher raises educational awareness through posters AVANISH C nefitted me greatly,” said Chander people writing other exams approa - king a single poster so that I can dent of Tirupati, I started spreading than 100 schools,” Chander said. many individual social workers. He adding, “If it can change my life, it ched me and so as of now I'm han - send that through social media,” awareness around Tirupati. As of Chander did an internet search sent them copies of his posters and CHENNAI: As a young student can improve the lives of other stu - dling material for more than six said Chander. today, I have reached out to more and found contacts of NGOs and got a good response. at Tirupati, Bhanu Chander faced dents too and contribute greatly to exams,” he said. “I made one by myself and star - “Many of them took photo co - difficulties in completing his edu - our nation’s economy.” Chander is now a researcher in ted sharing. I soon started making pies and spread the word to the cation. Not having studied in elite Chander completed his under - Robotics at IIT-Madras. He got to - YouTube videos in lesser known schools surrounding them. I will try schools, he was unaware of the en - graduation in engineering at Tiru - gether with a group of like-minded languages for those who couldn’t my best to cover all government trance exams he could write and the pati, and started working with students, with whom he participa - understand English.” schools and colleges in India,” he scholarships he could apply for. Larsen & Toubro Constructions. He ted in social service activities. Chander soon graduated to ma - said. Lack of money forced him to drop soon resigned, as he wanted to As a result, he eventually deve - king physical posters for students “My elder brother Somasundar the idea of appearing for the IIT- study further. loped contacts with NGO’s and so - who couldn’t afford an internet has been taking care of all the fun - JEE exams. These difficulties mo - He found that coaching centers cial activists in the field of connection. ding,” he said, adding that he also tivated him to help underprivileged were charging exorbitant prices for education. “The government has many edu - spent his own money. students, who were unaware of study material for the IIT-GATE He soon developed the idea of cational initiatives and scholarship Sasi Kumar, the head of an NGO their prospects and were strapped exams and the Common Entrance spreading awareness about educa - programs. The only problem is rea - benefitting from Chander’s efforts for funds. Examination for Design (CEED). tional facilities in India in an eco - chability and awareness amongst is all praise for him. “My parents are neither rich nor “I decided to help the people by nomic fashion. students,” he said. “He does not want others to ex - educated. But they were determi - starting a blog called Stuff You “I started collecting resources Chander then launched Project perience the dilemma he experien - ned to send me and my siblings to Look. I started sharing free mate - and details about the exams as well Vidhya Spurthi. “Under Vidhya ced as a student. What he has been school, even if it meant taking rials and solved thousands of de - as scholarships. After compiling Spurthi, I started sending posts to doing greatly improved the lives of loans. The education I received be - sign aspirants’ queries. Soon, the course list, I got the idea of ma - government schools. Being a resi - Banu Chander at a social service drive C AVANISH other students,” he said The Word Edition 10 page 3_Layout 1 4/2/2018 10:45 AM Page 1

CHENNAI March 29, 2018 THE WORD CITYSCAPE 3

PwDs struggle to get disability identity cards GARIMA BORA

CHENNAI: It has been more than a year since the Centre launched the An Act to Act Upon Unique Disability Identity card; but obtaining the card and getting it The RWPD Act stands insufficient accepted has not been easy in Tamil BHAGYASRI reimbursing fees of children as well as assistive and Nadu. CHAUDHURY with disabilities who enroll rehabilitation devices for the R Radhakrishnan, Managing themselves in secondary and differently abled. New rules on Trustee of Karunai Trust, runs the CHENNAI: Six years of high school courses in private the use of medical devices have Anna Special School for mentally lobbying that led to the passing institutions, Roy said. been promulgated, and there are challenged and works along with of the Rights for Persons with “There are no clear laws now on the use of disabled Tamil Nadu Association for the Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016, provisions in the RPWD Act persons in such trials.” Rights of All Types of Differently has fallen short of expectations explaining who will be liable to The Act leaves several rules Abled and Caregivers in the field of education and pay the maintenance in case of to be managed by the central (TARATDAC). He says that the maintenance for those who persons undergoing abuse or and state governments, but the doctors don’t know how to undergo abuse or exploitation, exploitation,” he added. rules have not been categorise the differently abled based said V. Arun Roy, state promulgated in Tamil Nadu yet, on the given the criteria. No proper commissioner for the she said. procedure is followed even though differently abled. The Act leaves “The rules are political and the disability criteria run to about 56 People from TARATDAC protesting at station |THE HINDU A meeting among jurists, non-implementable,” she said, pages. disability rights activists, and several rules to be “I don’t think the rules are good Radhakrishnan cites the example railway counters or vice versa. For certify 150 differently abled. “It gets harder to make the senior bureaucrats from the enough. For example, of a man with one arm amputated, each card, the differently abled This is when the Unique differently abled understand about state government had taken managed by the employers who employ more who was given a 35 per cent person has to go to the doctor, get the Disability Identity card (UDID) also the card” place earlier this week to Central and State than five per cent of their disability with an additional note of certificate and then go the District called Svalambam card came into In October last year, the National discuss the new Act workers as those with ‘temporary disability’. Disability Rehabilitation Centres to focus. A universal card was brought Platform for the Rights of the The RPWD Act promises free governments, but disabilities will get an incentive Another instance was when a man register for the particular card. in to ensure that the differently abled Disabled wrote to the Minister of and compulsory education for the rules have not from the state. But how much is using calipers to walk was denied a Radhakrishnan says a lot of times do not need separate identity cards Railways asking for these cards to be all differently abled children up this incentive? What is this disability certificate the doctors are not available and the for various government departments, used for identity purposes instead of to the age of 18 in a been promulgated incentivising going to do? It is “It is so cumbersome to obtain a applicants are then told to go see schemes and concessions and was having persons with disabilities seek neighbourhood school, or a unclear.” simple certificate of disability” he another doctor. All this is done meant to work all across India. another card specifically for railway school of their choice. in Tamil Nadu yet Disability, like many other says. knowing the fact that these are In Tamil Nadu, as per the 2011 concession. While the Right to Education sectors, require scientific and Earlier, the identity cards given disabled people. census there are nearly 11.8 lakh Mr. Nambu Rajan, General Act, 2009, that dealt with medical research and input. would work only in particular At times, if the doctor is not People with Disabilities (PwD), only Secretary of TARATDAC says that children within the 6-14 years Swapna Sundar, lawyer, and The rules that are there in the districts. Different disability cards present, a medical student will stand 12791 cards have been issued. though some people have applied age bracket, clearly says that CEO of IP Dome said, new act are devoid of numbers were required for different purposes, in as a substitute. Other times camps However, Radhakrishnan says the and got the universal disability ID the government should “Recently, there has been a lot and statistics. such as education, railways, and are held to give the certificate. One guidelines to obtain the UDID card, the scheme has still not been reimburse fees of students of focus on the disability sector. “It is incomplete, insufficient Income Tax returns. The education of the camps was held in his school are ambiguous and still not accepted implemented and so cannot be used enrolled in private schools, the There has been research on the and is completely ambigous,” card will not be acceptable at the in which only one doctor came to at many places. yet in Tamil Nadu. RPWD Act remains silent on means of preventing disabilities she added. March for Chennai Super Secularism gets Kings fans hope the final nod DEBANGANA GHOSH nist) (CPIML) said, “The vicious for a tri umph saffronised Edappadi government, ASHWIN MANIKANDAN CHENNAI: After facing delays cited traffic, law and order issues as in starting the ‘March for Secula - reasons to deny us permission for CHENNAI: With just more than rism,’ the People’s Platform the march. We won the legal battle a week left for the Indian Premier Against Fas - at the League (IPL) 2018 to get under - cism (PPAF) Madras way, fans of finally got High (CSK) can’t seem to conceal their the nod from “The vicious saffroni - Court.” excitement to see their team in ac - the Madras sed Edappadi The tion after a two year absence from High Court march is the action. on March 28, government, cited expected “When the news of CSK’s sus - but with a to begin Chepauk protest against motor vehicles act pension came in 2015, we were dis - fresh set of traffic, law and order on April |HRIDKAMAL ROY heartened beyond words. I directions issues as reasons to 1 from remember completely boycotting absence (due to recent ball-tampe - which will si - Chennai the 2016 edition,” says Raghura - ring controversy) would cost them multaneously deny us permission for and end man, a 28-year-old IT professional. a lot I feel. Other than that Punjab ensure some the march.” in Ka - “Can’t wait to see my team in ac - and also have strong control by nyaku - Profit for the company, tion again!” teams. But we have the best Cap - the State Po - - Sathish Kumar, mari ten On 15th July 2015, IPL franchi - tain of all, M S Dhoni. He’ll be our lice over the Leader, CPIML days sees Chennai Super Kings and Ra - talisman,” Navaneeth added. march. later co - taxi drivers face loss jasthan Royals were suspended for Not all is rosy however among Justice vering HRIDKAMAL ROY the company through online could be enforced here. up to five years (later reduced to the CSK fans. Some fans are mif - M.S. Ramesh granted liberty to the 2300 km across 49 cities and 21 payment from which the driver’s Taxi drivers who own their two years) by Justice RM Lodha fed with high pricing of the tickets petitioners (PPAF) to approach the districts. Around 40 to 50 members CHENNAI: Taxi drivers working cut is very less.” vehicles are planning to start their Committee after finding guilty for this time. The tickets range from Director General of Police (DGP) including personalities from art and for taxi aggregators like Ola and “If I have to earn some more out own service. betting. The fans are hoping that Rs. 6500 for the Pavilion Terrace to for protection during the march. cinema industry, activists, educa - Uber are planning on going on a of this I will have to over work each Ola driver Gunalan said, “We the team will make amends by brin - Rs. 1300 for the Lower Tier; almost But they need to provide the route tionists, students, politicians, fisher strike from next month seeking day. We are planning on going on a have planned to install a software ging the IPL trophy back to Chen - a 200% hike from the IPL 2015 edi - of the march which will happen men, tribals and members from dif - better wages and service conditions. strike and demand that the cut of the application for privately owned nai. tion. across Tamil Nadu, specifying the ferent disciplines will be joining the This follows a united protest by driver be increased,” he added. taxis. What happens now is that the “We’ve been the most successful “We have perhaps the most di - places of meeting and the dates. A march. the LDF(Labour Development LDF secretary Shanmugham said applications in the customer’s team in IPL history. I’m sure the verse and loyal fan base. To keep decision would be taken after ob - The main attraction of the march Foundation) , CITU(Centre of that the amendments to the Motor phone and the driver’s phone are team’s response will be positive even the lowest ticket prices at RS. taining reports from the concerned will be a customized caravan, de - Indian Trade Unions) and TTSF( Vehicles Act permited the different and both are controlled by making the comeback,” says P Na - 1300 makes no sense to me. As a districts. signed to “invoke secular anti- Tamil Nadu Transport Staff commercial taxi services like Ola the company. But under the new vaneeth, a member of Whistle Podu student, I’m not sure if I can afford The police, however, can impose caste, resistive and rationalist Foundation) at Chepauk on March and Uber to work autonomously. system, the application in the Army, the official Fan Club of to watch the games at Chepauk,” reasonable restrictions after recei - traditions of the modern Tamil era 13. This created problems for the privately owned taxis will be CSK. says Vimal John, a first year B.Tech ving the representation to maintain and of earlier literary and archaeo - Uber driver Tamizhmaran said, drivers. handled by the driver himself. He However, the fans are aware of student. peace and order. logical sources,” said a post uploa - “Drivers don’t earn much from The Central Government was will be able to decide the fare and improved competition in this year’s CSK start their campaign against Sathish Kumar, Leader, Commu - dedon the PPAF’s official driving cabs and now the money trying to initiate western laws in earn a decent amount of money out edition. “I think has the Indians at Wankhede Sta - nist Party of India (Marxist-Leni - Facebook page. most of the times goes directly to India without even analysing if they of one trip.” strongest team, but David Warner’s dium in Mumbai on 7th April. ‘There’s no liberation without protests’ HARIPRASAD students from the Government He also stressed the importance of RADHAKRISHNAN College of Fine Arts, Chennai and protests to protect labour rights. “Not Kumbakonam are put on display at everybody would be able to go to the CHENNAI: “Art is for whom?” Spaces in Besant Nagar. courts, as it is a tedious process,” he questioned retired Speaking on the fourth day of the said. “So, there’s no liberation judge K. Chandru. He cited the event, he said that the relationship without protests.” example of the Brihadeeshwara between a labourer and his work is Speaking of the judicial system, he temple in and said, often tenuous. said that judges are of two kinds: “Thousands of labourers had to bring “The labourers are alienated from “forward-looking and looking [granite] stones from very far away to their work once it is finished, and forward.” construct that temple as they were not usually don’t get credit for it,” he He said that progressive judges fall available in Thanjavur. Do we talk said. under the former category, while the about the toils of those labourers In today’s world, Mr. Chandran latter comprises judges who look for today?” pointed at a different kind of return of favours through revolving Now, the people who speak of exploitation. doors. ancient laurels of Tamils, he said, “Many MNCs in India have He also lashed out at the state of point at the structure and heap different rules across different contractual labour today. praises. countries. In the Western countries “This is a decadent form of “What did the labourers get in they have a strict 8-hour work capitalism,” he said. return is a question we seldom ask,” schedule, but in countries like India It is very important for the he pointed out. they ask them to work for 13-14 labourers to fight for their rights Mr. Chandru was speaking at the hours, and that too for low wages. today, so they can manage a week-long ‘Archiving Labour’ This is a form of perpetualization of minimum subsistence at least and live Thanjavur temple... a testimony to the toils of the labour? Poster for the People’s Platform Against Fascism exhibition in which the works of colonialism.” to fight another day.” FACEBOOK IMAGE The Word Edition 10 Page 4_Layout 1 4/2/2018 9:40 AM Page 1

THE WORD CHENNAI MARCH 29, 2018 4 CITYSCAPE Thespians of Tamil theatre talk of decline AVANISH C. cycle. New trends emerge every now and then. If the trend changes, Chennai: Tamil theatre is almost me and my plays will have to non-existent these days with very change with it,” he said. few groups staging plays and Rejin Rose, who formed the possibly fewer organizations theatre group “Medai” in 2015, got sponsoring these actors. his start with Koothu-p-pattarai. He In its prime, the Tamil theatre now takes classes in dramatic boasted of stalwarts like Cho acting, alongside appearing in films Ramaswamy and . like “” starring Then there was R S Manohar, an on . Unlike his mentor screen villain, who staged historical Muthuswamy, Rose is hopeful that plays such as Chankaya Sabadham the tide will turn for the better. (Chanakya’s Vow). Malikafur and “The theatre culture started Lankeswaran (about Ravana). vanishing during the 1980’s. But Manohar’s National Theatres passionate students are now turning produced 29 plays that were Na. Muthuswamy founded the Koothu-P-Pattarai in 1970 (L); Crazy Mohan feels that hu - up in bigger numbers more than performed 8000 times.Stage plays mour plays a vital role in attracting audiences in plays ever,” he said.“It is a slow process, such as Server Sundaram and |AVANISH CHANDRASHEKARAN but the attendance is rising in both Major Chandrakanth formed the major play that was on in the city,” to get into films.” humour in plays to attract acting schools and theatres.” basis for major motion pictures. said the 81-year-old Padma Shri Muthuswamy developed his love audiences. “Massaging the mind Rose feels that the government Now, many thespians feel that the awardee. for the theatre as a school student with good humour is the greatest investment in theatre needs to film industry has taken the place of Muthuswamy is largely and participated in theatre message you can give your improve. “Other states are actively theatre. Na. Muthuswamy formed pessimistic about a revival of the productions on a regular basis. audience,” said the comedian, who investing in developing the the Koothu-P-Pattarai theatre group theatre culture in Chennai. “These days, I don’t hear a single is also known for his screenwriting performing arts. Only Tamil Nadu in the 1970s. His main objective “Theatre was a phenomenon some school or college hosting a grand collaborations with actor Kamal is lagging behind,” he said. He also was to bring the Therukoothu form 30-40 years ago, when people like production. The culture has entirely Haasan. believes that theatre workshops and of traditional Tamil theatre to the Cho were staging plays. Nearly vanished,” he said. “If schools Mohan’s play, “Chocolate festivals need to be organized on a masses. He recalled the culture that 400-500 people used to pack the inculcate theatrical talent within Krishna”, recently completed 1000 regular basis. “If workshops and used to prevail in the early years. halls during a performance,” he children from a young age, then performances. “Humour is a festivals are organized in schools “My wife used to work in the said.“Now television has taken there is hope. They need to take the visiting commodity. If you keep the and colleges, it provides office by the day, and was part of a over and people are provided initiative.” Crazy Mohan, who comedy good and fresh, people will opportunities for new talents to sabha (theatre group) by the dramas in the comfort of their formed Crazy Creations with his always come,” he said. However, display their skills. It can possibly evenings. As a result, she always homes through serials. Theatre is brother Balaji in 1979, he fears the day when comedy will give rise to a new culture in the used to get two tickets for every used as a stepping stone these days, believes in the importance of not be in vogue. “It is a vicious state’s theatre scene,” Rose said. An old advertisement of Remy Talcum powder |GARIMA BORA AVERAGE GROWTH HAUNTS ENGLISH THEATRE A place for old COMEDIES AND STAND-UPS ARE THE CROWD-PULLER AT THE URBAN THEATRES DEBANGANA GHOSH made them think theatre is for Sunil. GpARaIMAg BOeRA s in inM Englanda, whicdh wasr onace listes d in entertainment and not for aesthetic This is not the case for English the Guinness Book of Records as the Chennai: The growth of English interests,” said Krishna Kumar, theatres where the revenue model Chennai : As Govinda Raju opens his world’s largest bookshop. theatre in the city has remained Founder, Masquerade theatre solely depends on ticket sales, garage the smell of old books wafts The books Raju has now are part of stagnant and has not been promoted group. sponsors and patrons. Most of them through the air. The garage is actually a his second collection. He sold around in any way. Word of mouth and Kumar added, “Unlike Kolkata heavily rely on marketing strategies book store called Rare Books. 13 tonnes of material to a social media are the only resort for and Mumbai, here and advertising on social media to “There are over 2000 rare books and collector to be more conservative them to attempt to get audience into have stopped covering and get sponsors as well as viewers. 5000 clippings of magazine about his book hoarding. What started the theatres, according to the reviewing theatre plays here. Even Theatres groups like Evam over advertisements in this room,” said the out as books slowly moved to English theatre artists. if something about a play comes, it the years, have moved on to 82-year-old man as he settles down in magazines. In 1997 magazines started The crowd pullers are restricted to will mostly be an advertisement. corporate training and stand up his wheel chair. Born and brought up to gain his interest. He would collect comedies and stand-ups. Other The Hindu had stopped reviewing comedies from hardcore plays to in Chennai, he used to be a human clippings of interesting stories, genres rarely find audience unless plays six to seven years ago.” make their venture financially resource development manager and advertisements, pictures and whatever it’s from renowned playwrights and With dwindling number of viable. Some of their recent also worked as a consultant in attracted him. He has more than 5000 theatre companies. viewers and less to no profit Krishna Kumar founded ‘Masquerade’, a theatre group, 25 initiatives include Happy Cows, a industrial law. clippings of magazines in his store “I have done theatre in Chennai financially, these groups survive years ago |DEBANGANA GHOSH theatre training programme for kids Raju calls himself book collector and currently, including old advertisements for the past 15 years but the solely on their passion for the art. and Training Sideways, a corporate not a bookseller. The first book he of Lux and Cinthol soaps, cycles, cars, audience strength is still the same. Other metropolitan cities get State culture. However, there is audience as compared to the training theatre. collected was Penguin Ariel, the first medicines and other products. This is not a good thing. Apart from government based subsidies to otherwise no monetary profit from English theatre. A sabha is a A major difference in terms of book to be launched by the publishing Most of his collection is in English our regular theatre going circle, promote theatre, which is not an it,” said R. Giridharan, Founder, “subscription model” for staging content between Tamil and English house. He started collecting books and Tamil. He has preserved some only college students take interest option here. Dummies Drama which does plays where a group of people theatre is that the latter uses a lot of from 1960s after his graduation. Raju 1000 copies of the Statesman dating in watching a play,” said Sunil “Although most of our prominent contemporary Tamil plays of sci-fi sponsor a theatre company and in western literature for their scripts as wants to have the biggest second hand back to the Sixties.He also bought a Vishnu K, Founder, Evam political leaders are actors, there is and fantasy genre. return they have to perform a compared to Tamil theatre where book store in South India. collection of Harper magazine from Entertainment Private Limited. no consideration for the theatre The sabhas are a big support for decided number of plays on a they mostly produce original He got the idea from Foyles also the year 1859. His favourite writers “Theatre groups have dumbed people. But it is not a problem for the Tamil theatre which being the monthly basis. At present, Chennai scripts which are more relatable to known as W & G Foyle Ltd., a include H.G Wells, Bernard Shaw, down the audience. They have us as we are a part of the sabha local language readily gets more has between 20 and 30 sabhas, said the city based audience. bookstore with a chain of seven stores Eleanor Wolf, and M. K.Gandhi. Mexican films with a French connection ‘Made in Hut’ GOWRI S However, according to the organisers, the student community,” said Thangaraj, foreign films, right from the ‘70s. I’ve read month. I find it very interesting to know reach of such film festivals is limited. adding,“We have around 450 members how stalwarts like and K about different cultures and lifestyles Chennai : Monthly International Film “We acquire these packages of who all religiously come for the screenings. Balachander used to visit the British through cinema.” An ardent follower for Handicrafts Festivals organised by the Indo Cine International films from the respective A small percentage of film makers and Council and U.S. Consulate to watch the past five years, he also expressed his BHAGYASRI C. evil spirits, to name a few. Appreciation Foundation (ICAF) fail to embassies and screen them here in an others who are involved with the art, also foreign films,” said Mrinalini D S, a film disappointment regarding the absence of a “Anywhere in the world, a attract students who are the target audience, attempt to present them to students who show interest” maker and editor currently based in younger audience. “I think this is the only Chennai : The out-of-place person making handicrafts is according to Emanadar Thangaraj, General need to know about non-commercial films The ICAF screens films from different Denver, Colorado. outlet through which the older audience exteriors of a ‘world most likely to be chipping Secretary of ICAF. and their technical details. But nobody parts of the world on a monthly basis in According to Mrinalini, older audience can watch these films. They might not be handicrafts’ store on the ECR away in some corner with a The Mexican Film Festival organised by comes,” said Thangaraj. “These films are addition to organising the Union members are the only ones who prefer very tech-savvy unlike the youngsters who catches one’s curiosity but thatched roof above his head. the Embassy of Mexico in India, Honorary not meant for entertainment at all. They are Film Festival, where in films from 25 watching films in live spaces. She said, have varied outlets available,” said John. venturing inside opens up Since our products were born Consulate of Mexico in Chennai and the educative,” continued Thangaraj. countries are screened with the support of “Our generation is more into ‘Netflix and ICAF has scheduled film festivals till another world altogether. in huts, we prefer to sell them ICAF, will be held till March 28 at the These monthly screenings see an audience the State Government every year. chill’, which could be one of the reasons August. According to ICAF members, D’Hut, opened by Neethirajan from a hut as well,” said Alliance Francaise of Madras. This edition which mostly constitute of elderly people According to Thangaraj, the response has for this limited viewership,” continued Korean and Chinese films have been and Reshuma, is a temple of Neethirajan. spanning over three days starting from and retired professionals. “Despite the been better in Pondicherry and Coimbatore Mrinalini. acquired for the next month’s line-up with wonder with its first-floor According to the couple, March 26 will screen five critically publicity given through the media, there in comparison to Chennai. John C, a theatre professional based in a plan to conduct an exclusive screening of storage space hold masks and African and Indonesian are acclaimed non-commercial Mexican films. has been no active response from the “Chennai has always had a thirst for Pondicherry said, “I try to make it every films by women directors in May. figures from Kenya, Rwanda, the most vibrant cultures in Turkey, Vietnam, Egypt, their shop. “Simply because Togo, Benin, Papua New their is undiluted,” he Guinea, Indonesia, and says. Thailand among many more. Though mesmerised by They have now started African masks Neethirajan MU to accept Kalakshetra diploma for PG courses procuring Indian craft forms has had to invest in smiling EISHA NAIR Foundation.A Post-Diploma (PD) student me that flexibility to move from music to as well, with their fledgling faces from at , pursuing MA dance. I want to pursue both after this, but collection comprising mostly because customers demanded Chennai : The four-year diploma course in Carnatic music from Madras not English. I’m just doing it as a traditional puppets. for happier looking masks. in Bharatnatyam, Carnatic music and University, Mithun Madhusoodanan says, formality." A marine engineer in the The couple does not consider Visual Arts from Kalakshetra Foundation "When looking for a job, diplomas don’t Dance student, Karthika Narayan who Merchant Navy, Neethirajan anyone as competition, will soon be recognized as eligible have much weight…we have just been finished graduation from Kerala soon realised his thirst for simply because they believe qualification for a master’s degree in the carrying on because of the name Kalamandalam and joined the handmade craft was far more that no one else operates in . ‘Kalakshetra’.” Kalakshetra diploma course says, “After than what a house could hold. their space. Neethirajan According to a report in The Times of “In the Madras University course we Plus Two students come here, do a four- His house would not suffice explains, “Most people selling India, at a meeting ten days ago, the give exams once a year. Since I’m doing year diploma course and then a three-year for the numbers he wanted to handicrafts soon diversify into university accepted a recommendation a calendar-year course (January to graduation and then an MA…that deters a bring back to India from his furniture soon. We just want made by a panel from Kalakshetra that the December) and not an academic year lot of people.” many voyages. to stick to natural interior diploma met the eligibility criteria for post (June to March) course, my exam dates “Kalakshetra Foundation selects only six “It was then that the dream of décor products.” The market graduate programs. However, it still needs do not clash. Madras University keeps or seven students from 25 diploma ‘D'Hut' began,” he quipped. in general has been very to be ratified by the university’s academic contact classes for 20 days. It’s up to you students per batch for its PD course. We “My wife was the one to encouraging and promising to council and senate. Even though the to attend,” says Madhusoodanan. can’t apply, they shortlist people. So suggest the idea, considering them. They respect their Foundation is recognized as an According to Madhusoodanan, the MA diploma students who don’t get in, and there were more handicrafts clientele immensely for autonomous body by the Ministry of course is more theoretical and Tamil- Students of Kalakshetra Foundation take a break after the haven’t got graduation certificates find it than space for people in the teaching them the tricks of the Culture, the diploma is not affiliated to focused. “You have to do six examinations tough. I want to do an M.Phil if I don’t get house! She was the one to trade. Madras University, and hence not ragam-thalam-pallavis there and only two |EISHA NAIR into PD here. But for that also you need a help me, and our passion was Having been in business for recognized. in Kalakshetra. The University teaches a they teach you what you need as a disciplines like literature, or history,” he master’s degree, says Karthika. soon transformed into a ten years, their client is “Since we only give a diploma, the lot of Tamil traditional songs — performer,” he says. adds. Diploma in Dance student Avantika successful business.” anyone who appreciates art. students pursue a degree course through Thevaram and Thirupugazh and rare “While I found it manageable, I think K. Impana, a student of Dance says, Viswa says, “I’m worried about the Pronounced ‘The Hut', the So which pieces of craft distance education mode from Madras compositions — Kritis like the students should have a choice if they want “The diploma course itself is pretty repercussions this move can have. store is filled with curious reflect their personalities? University (MU). The only rule is that the Pancharatnams of Gopalkrishna Bharati, to do both courses together,” says intensive…we train physically daily…we Kalakshetra follows a semester format, handmade figures, masks, Reshuma is quick to answer exam dates should not clash. If it does that aren’t so popular these days and that Madhusoodanan. “Madras University get tired, and then in the evening we go but the exam questions aren’t level boxes, trinkets, fertility dolls, on Neethirajan's behalf. “Oh. Kalakshetra exams should be given nobody sings in concerts. In Kalakshetra doesn’t have a BA in Dance. So the home and study again.” Another music specific. Nobody comes here for a bone sculptures, and charms He is most definitely an preference,” says S. Ragunath, they teach Tamil, Telugu and Sanskrit Kalakshetra students have to pursue student, S. Priyanka, who is also doing a certificate; it has always been for the sake to bring good luck, or ward off African mask! administrative consultant at Kalakshetra songs. It’s a more updated syllabus, and something completely unrelated to their BA in English, says, “Kalakshetra gives of knowledge.”