Edition 7 Page 1_Layout 1 3/23/2019 2:09 PM Page 1

Volume No 19 Issue No 7 March 15, 2019 LAB JOURNAL OF THE ASIAN COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM Amma Gym in a Mahilas build Users want Tik state of neglect train at ICF Tok regulated Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 EC ups awareness drive Unorganised workers NARESH SINGARAVELU Election Commission of picture or record a 2 minute video machines, a feedback system that (ECI) website, the ECI has in case there is a violation of the allows voters to verify that their : As gears strengthened its voter helpline to code of conduct. The photo or votes have been cast as intended. up to vote on April 18 in the second make it easy for voters to get video can then be easily uploaded Another poster campaign, which float list of demands phase of the Lok Sabha Elections, authentic information pertaining to on the cVIGIL app. takes cue from actor Vijay-starrer the Election Commission (EC) is their voter registration. The app will then use the Sarkar, has sought to create AMIR MALIK stepping up its voter-awareness The range of services provided location services of the mobile awareness about Section 49P of the campaigns by roping in celebrities by the helpline number, 1950, had device to automatically pin-point Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961. CHENNAI: Workers in the and displaying posters in several been refurbished the location. According to Section 49P, a unorganised sector have demanded spots in the city. and made easily Once the picture voter who discovers that someone that political parties address their Videos featuring actors Vijay accessible, said or the video is has already voted using their name, demands and grievances and Sethupathi and Vivek, cricketer the press note. submitted, the can approach the presiding officer, include them in the manifesto in the Dinesh Karthik, and squash player Any user can citizen will get a and if they satisfactorily answer upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Dipika Pallikal, are set to be played call 1950 and Unique ID that questions relating to their identity, “It is a dark age for the in cinemas from this week, said a obtain will enable him to the voter is allowed to cast their unorganised sector because of the government official. information about track and get vote on a ‘tendered’ ballot paper, policies that different governments Actor Vijay Sethupathi, in a his/her voter updates on his which is then locked and sealed implement at different times. video, is seen urging people to shed details in the mobile device. away. Moreover, the dark age has the “will-my-vote-even-matter” electoral roll, The citizen can Such votes are called ‘tender worsened with the Modi mentality, and to start actively check for the report as many votes’ and are used when the Government at the Centre since following election related news. status of his/her violations as margin of votes between two 2014. We will hold a nation-wide He prods people to reject the enrollment possible. candidates is thin and the margin of protest on 27th March,” said R “Dark age for the unorganised sector” - R Geetha | AMIR M. money offered for votes and application and EC had also victory is less than the number of Geetha of the Nirman Mazdoor advises voters to analyse the also lodge “If someone else voted in prepared tendered votes. Panchayat Sangam at a meeting continuously against the with vigour,” he added. candidate list and vote for the grievances. your name, worry not,” - awareness posters However, if a candidate secures organised by trade unions in Tamil government. We demand that the Raja Sridhar of the Hind candidate who they think will serve To keep the EC poster on Section 49P. which would be victory by a large number of votes, Nadu on March 14. changes made in the labour laws be Mazdoor Sabha said that the the nation best. political parties in displayed in metro these tendered votes are not usually “After 33 years, a meeting for revoked” said C. Thiruvettai, unorganised workers had been the Actor Vivek, cricketer Dinesh check and ensure | AR MURUGADOSS ON TWITTER stations, bus stops, considered since they cannot tip the the unorganised workers is being General Council member of Centre most affected by demonestisation. Karthik and squash player Dipika they do not and other scales in any manner. organised. You can imagine our of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). Criticising the Prime Minister Jan Pallikal are seen spreading violate the Model Code of prominent public places, said the For the verification process, the predicament,” said Geetha. A loud Earlier this year, the Union Dhan Yojana and Ujjwala awareness about the voter Conduct, the EC has introduced the official. voter is required to produce any response from the audience Cabinet approved an amendment to Yojanana, he said that Narendra complaint helpline number -1950. cVIGIL app. One such poster will educate valid identification recognized by confirmed their pain. the Trade Union Act, 1926. Union Modi, “not only left us money less According to a press note dated As reported by Business Today, voters about the voter verifiable the EC after which they will be Criticising the Modi leaders have said that the but also pushed us to hunger.” February 22, 2019, available on the the app allows any person to click a paper audit trail (VVPAT) allowed to register their vote. government’s policies, she said that Government was trying to retain The meeting demanded in a country run by the informal the power to interfere in the trade regularisation of a tri-party sector, government schemes such union activities. committee (Workers, Government as the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi “We reject the changes. What the and the Union) to have a dialogue, New passport Maan-Dhan (PMSYM) was a loot Modi government did by turning a budgetary allocation of 3 per cent of public money. According to the 44 existing laws into 4 codes is creation of shelters for pavement centre for scheme, workers would get a unacceptable. They are asking us to dwellers and a minimum wage of pension of Rs 3000 only if they inform the management 42 days in Rs 75 per hour for domestic joined it. If they joined the scheme advance, rather than 14 days, if we workers. Laxman from Orissa, who PRIYANKA KAUL at 18 years of age they would have want to hold a strike,” said A. has been working in Chennai since to pay Rs 55 with matching Subramani, National Secretary of 1995, said, “We do not have health CHENNAI: The new Passport Seva contributions from the Welfare Party of India. “In the cover. The minimum accident Kendra (PSK) on Rajaji Salai has Government. A worker joining the name of ease of doing business, the insurance should be Rs 5 lakh.” come as a relief to the residents of scheme at the age of 29 years Government has allowed 100% A S Kumar from All India North Chennai who earlier had to would have to pay Rs 100 and at FDI. It is helping the corporates as Central Council of Trade Unions travel 15-20 km to get a new the age of 40 years he or she would much as it can. I won’t say this is (AICCTU) asked, “Who will take passport or get an old one renewed. have to contribute Rs 200. the BJP’s policies; it is care of the migrant workers in the The new unit has been set up in the The 146-year-old landmark will now be named after former CM MGR. | WIKIMEDIA “We have been protesting implementing the UPA’s policies unorganised sector?” General Post Office (GPO) at Parry’s Corner and facilitates the document verification process. The PSK verifies a maximum of Chennai Central renaming: 25 passport applications every day. Two officers from the Post Office Kasimedu fishermen itself have been recruited for facilitating the verification process Residents remain opposed at the centre. Before this, Chennai NARESH SINGARAVELU historical station be renamed after The NDA Government had protest ‘sudden’ evictions had only three PSKs in a political leader just for appeasing consented to rename at least 25 , and CHENNAI: Residents of the city a section of the ruling AIADMK?” towns and villages in 2018, , far from most have largely mixed feelings about questioned Shivashankari (22), a according to a report in The Times Port Trust official says they were given notice localities in North Chennai. The the Centre’s decision to rename the software engineer based in the city. of India. People have criticised the residents here can now select the iconic Chennai Central railway Srinivasan (49), an auto driver attempt to gain political mileage by N SINDHU units has affected their business. As a replacement for the updated Rajaji Salai unit for the station after the late former Tamil who makes frequent trips to the invoking MGR’s legacy. “Last Tuesday, when all of us temporary shelters, currently 146 manual verification of documents Nadu Chief Minister M G station, said “I’ve been coming to “The governments of Modi and CHENNAI: Fishermen and fish came for work around 10 a.m., the sheds have been built by the after online application. Ramachandran. the station for the last 23 years as Palaniswamy have feigned some vendors are protesting against the police and revenue officers came Trust in another part “We have been getting The announcement was made by an auto driver, and it will be concern or interest in the legacy of “sudden” removal of around 90 with eviction notices and asked us of the harbour. However, the approximately 15-20 applicants per Prime Minister Narendra Modi in difficult for me to start calling it by MG Ramachandran purely to temporary sheds used to store fish to vacate by afternoon. As this was fishermen say this is far away from day, as for now. But if it increases, an election rally in Kilambakkam any other name.” derive unfair, illegal and what will in ice boxes, inside the Kasimedu a sudden move and not discussed the fish unloading area. new alternatives will have to be in Kanchipuram district. It was met On his social media page, be short timed political benefit,” Fishing harbour. with us, I am sure we will not even The labourers, who act as looked into since we cannot with criticism by residents and Vincent D Souza, editor and said Manuraj. Residents have The temporary shelters were receive compensation,” said M middlemen helping in unloading accomodate more than 25”, an opposition parties alike. publisher of a community echoed the view. “This is purely an taken down by authorities from the Balasekaran, a fish vendor. the fish, storing it and transporting official said. “The naming or renaming of the newspaper Times, called election stunt to bring back MGR’s Chennai Port Trust, as they needed However, Deputy Chairman of it to the market, are now charging P. Thanigaivel, a resident of Old Central Railway Station is clearly a for people to flood the mailboxes of name into the mainstream,” reflects around 300 metres space to widen Chennai Port Trust Cyril George, extra. The fish vendors also have Washermenpet got his passport misplaced political stunt. The the Railway Minister, the Prime Santhosh (24), an IT professional. the road within the harbour as part said “The fishermen were informed to deposit rent for the new shelters. from 10 years timing of the stunt, coming right Minister, Tamil Nadu Chief However, Mani (55), a tea stall of the - Manali Road on 25 February, then a public “I have had my shop here for ago. He did not have to travel far before an election, is not lost on the Minister and the Railway Board owner from , supports thie Improvement Project (EMRIP). hearing was conducted on 04 more than 10 years. The officials and got it renewed from Raja Salai. people,” said Manuraj with their sentiments about the decision. “Puratchi Thalaivar The fisherman claim that they March and even after that the don’t understand it is difficult to Inaugurated by Prime Minister Shunmugasundaram, decision “Like thousands of others [MGR] is still relevant in today’s were not informed or consulted by fishermen were given two days of shift suddenly. It is easy and cheap Narendra Modi on January 28, the spokesperson, Dravida Munnetra in the city and outside, we will politics. I am happy that the the officials. Most of the families time. They have been asked to only when the ice storage sheds are services have been sought from the Kazhagam (DMK). continue to call it Chennai Central government has recognised his living in the nearby NTO Kuppam vacate time and again from 2010 close to the fish unloading area,” GPO as a third party sourcing . “How can a 146 year-old Station,” he said. importance,” he said. say that the removal of the storage itself for EMRIP.” said Vijayakumar, a fish vendor. Oil spills cause a rash of problems for Ennore fishermen OMJASVIN MD the , into which the According to a study done by smell nor the oil stain leaves our vanadium. These cancerous not ordered the petrochemical flows, has the Aquaculture Foundation of body,’’ he adds. chemicals can either block the companies to clean the oil sludge, CHENNAI: The thick patches of affected the people of India and the , the ‘‘I’ve often been getting eye pores of the skin or even get into the fishermen allege and claim that oil floating on the Kosasthalaiyar Kaatukuppam the most. Ennore Creek is polluted with irritation and itching but I can’t the skin.’’ the oil leak is happening on a River in Ennore pose a serious V.Desing (41), a fisherman of toxic chemicals such as mercury, afford to go to Stanley Hospital for ‘‘Patients normally come to get permanent basis now. threat to health, say the fishermen Kaatukuppam village in Ennore lead, arsenic and cadmium. Skin treatment as it costs a day’s treated for nausea, itching, ‘‘The only thing that we can do who work in the area. has developed skin rashes in his lesions and rashes are commonly livelihood,’’ he said. ‘‘Hair does headache and fatigue,’’ says is protest and ask for The oil discharge about two leg and also in other parts of his found in fishermen in the not grow in the places where oil Pandian. Most of these issues are compensation from these weeks ago has not only killed the body. Desing says the skin lesions Kaatukuppam, Netukkuppam and patches touch our body,’’ he adds. likely to get passed on to the next industries,’’ says Desing. aquatic life in the water but has and rashes have become very Mugathwara Kuppam in Ennore. As there are very few health generation too, he claims. ‘‘We want the Creek back to its also been a cause for skin lesions common among villagers, so much Sasikumar (51) of centres or clinics in Ennore, Apart from affecting the normal condition and we’ll try to and rashes which is prevalent so that they don’t visit doctors Kaatukuppam, goes into the Creek fishermen occasionally go to ecology, habitat, people’s health at least given our children a better among most of the fishermen anymore. everyday to fish and sometimes Thiruvottriyur, which is 5 and livelihood, the toxic chemicals future. We protest. We make there, they say. ‘‘Rashes reoccur as the water is gets into the water to catch worms kilometres from Ennore for pose a huge threat to the future complaints. The police tell us that The industries behind the filled with toxic chemicals,’’ he used as fish feed. ‘‘When we draw treatment. generation as well. ‘‘Our children they have passed our requests to petrochemical discharge are a says, adding that there’s no point nets back to the boat from the Dr. Muthu Pandian, a general are born with respiratory the Collector. But the Collector petroleum company on one side in getting treated medically. water, we inevitably come in practitioner in a private clinic in illnesses,’’ say P.Bhaskhar (40), a gets transferred often enough that and a thermal power station on the ‘‘Another reason for not visiting contact with the oil,’’ he says. ‘‘We Thiruvottriyur, who has been fisherman of the Netukkuppam the new Collector needs time to other side of the Kosasthalaiyar doctors is because of the also get into the water to catch treating people for about two village. The fish from the Creek get familiar with the matter,’’ adds river, allege the fishermen. availability of only private clinics worms and get drenched in oil. decades now said ‘‘The are not purchased anymore Desing. Despite the government’s The oil discharge which is nearby which charge Rs.600 per Even if we take baths three to four petrochemical products contain because of the chemicals found in promise, nothing has happened on slowly spreading to other parts of visit,’’ he said. times with shampoo, neither the hydrocarbons, nickel, copper, and them. The Government has so far the ground. Oil stains lives |OMJASVIN MD Edition 7 Page 2_Layout 1 3/19/2019 9:29 AM Page 1

2 THE WORD CITYSCAPE CHENNAI March 15, 2019 Maa Ulaa to expand its service Bike-taxis run by differently abled, aims to cover all of India

NIKEETA GAUTAM CHENNAI: It started with adversity that K.Balaji (36) had to face because of what he says were long working hours at a corporate office. Balaji, who caught a disease affecting his spinal cord, went into depression after leaving the job. He joined yoga classes and he used to drop his yoga teacher Ramalingam at home. Ramalingam then suggested that Balaji start a two-wheeler taxi service. Upon this suggestion, Balaji started Maa Ulaa, a bike taxi service in January, 2016. He was joined by Mohamed Gaddaffe as a co-founder and investor later. Now, the service engages around 80 drivers in Chennai, 30 drivers in Tirunelveli and around 10 in Madurai. All the drivers are differently The entrace door of the Amma Fitness Centre cluttered with posters | OMJASVIN M.D. abled. “The Tamil Nadu Government has been providing scooters to all the differently able persons since 2005,” said Gaddaffe, who is a polio patient. Balaji said “Also, it is very difficult for Amma gym in a differently abled people to stay in a corporate Mohamed Gaddaffe, co-founder, Maa Ulaa, on his bike-taxi. | NIKEETA GAUTAM setup for more than 3-4 hours, so this ride- sharing platform is an convenient option for towards commercialisation and expansion. The A. Muthu, joint tansport commissioner , said them to earn.” company from now onwards will levy two per “Bike taxis are not legal in Tamil Nadu. But, due In the beginning, it was very hard for the bike- cent of the drivers’ revenue as a service charge. to its increasing popularity and since it has state of neglect taxi to get passengers as people used to hesitate “We are gradually planning to expand our become a convenient means of travelling for OMJASVIN M.D. placard inside has the original 400 a month the corporation gyms to get on a bike ridden by a differently abled service to other States for which we need a cash many people, proposal has been sent to the name of the gym. are free of cost. person. However now, Balaji says that most flow,” said Gaddaffe. government for legal approval.” CHENNAI: Amma Fitness Center, Located on Wall Tax Road in ‘‘What purpose does the gym Chennaities recognise their t-shirt and board The company plans to provide helmets for the Maa Ulaa was approached by Ola and Vroom. a gym operated by the Greater Elephant Gate, the gym was serve? Sometimes we use this place with Maa Ulaa’s logo. The drivers charge Rs 10 passengers and a holder for GPS devices for its But, the startup wanted to keep its business and Chennai Corporation in Elephant established four years ago by Dr. R. as a hangout spot, we sit and chat per km. drivers very soon. at the meantime wanted its drivers who are all Gate area which a few years ago Pratap Kumar, Councilor of Ward with friends in the evening. Maa Ulaa, which has been operating from 8 The bike-taxi service is registered in Social differently abled to work on their own time. had about fifty users every day now 54 in Zone 5. Nobody has really come to inspect pm to 6 am till now has not charged any fee for Welfare Ministry as a non-profit service. “We never pressure our members. If we get only has two or three, say people in ‘‘There were neither officials nor the condition of the gym,’’ he says. the drivers. Now, the company is gradually However, the company is waiting for acquired by a bigger company, we can’t continue the neighborhood. trainers here to take care of the gym The entrance to the gym is turning into a profit-making company. Maa Ulaa authorisation from Road Transport Ministry to this flexible work schedules,” says T.Alagurajan. In the recent years, the gym has since its inception,’’ says Joseph cluttered with political posters, launched an app in January as the first step register itself as a profit making company now. (26), one of the bike-taxi drivers. faced complete neglect from the Durairaj (22), a youth from the posters of birthday celebration of corporation authorities. The walls neighborhood who goes to the gym children in the area, and even death are dusty, the chairs dirty and the occasionally. ‘‘We have put our notices. mirrors are broken. The gym only own lock on the gym and have A. Vignesh (21) a resident of the Creating wealth has one bench press equipment and given the the keys to a woman who area, says ‘‘There is no point in a few dumbbells of same weight. lives nearby,’’ he says. ambitiously setting up gyms all out of waste ‘‘Just a few months ago, ‘‘Although youth are very much over the State if the Government is NIKITA SINGH somebody had erased the name interested in the gymnasium and not interested in maintaining ‘Amma Fitness Center’ from the fitness in my area, the bad them.’’ CHENNAI: A one-room shop name board and also erased condition of the gym and very Citing how corporate gyms are situated amidst the tenements in Amma’s picture from it,’’ says minimal equipment do not attract well-equipped, he says ‘‘We need Chitra Nagar in has R.Velmurugan, a scrap-merchant many people,’’ says Durairaj. better equipment like treadmill, survived 20 years just selling waste nearby. The name board only reads While the registration fee for a dumbbells of different weights, and to people in the area and elsewhere. ‘‘Fitness Center.’’ However, a basic private gym costs at least Rs. hydraulic machines.’’ Aseem (42), who runs the NSA Waste Mart for the past two decades dispatches the paper waste to the Paperman Foundation for recycling, while the glass bottles Cable TV units want GST cut and card board boxes and are NOEL A. CORERA pay for the only those channels. These increased rates as well as the usually bought by the local Earlier DTH customers paid for an high rates that some networks residents. CHENNAI: Tamizha Cable entire package that contained charged the cable television A 22-year old student Nandini, Operators Association (TCOA) has channels that they did not want. operators had thrown a lot of who lives across the street, requested the Centre to reduce the Now DTH services had become people out of jobs. Cold storage to aid vendors in the fishmarket |N. SINDHU regularly sells her paper waste to GST on cable subscriptions from cheaper than the cable connections. On top of this, the government has NSA. “I have bought plastic and 18 per cent to 5 percent to help Santhanam said that the shifted cable TV from the 5 per glass containers from the waste cable operators improve their imposition of 18 per cent Goods cent GST bracket to the 18 per cent mart. We buy it for a price much business. and Services Tax on cable bracket. That’s not good,” he said. Cold storage gets a facelift cheaper than the market rates,” she According to Telecom connections could not be afforded Members of the TCOA were N. SINDHU vegetables and dairy products like had used mini cold storage units said. Regulatory Authority of India by a majority of the people. present at the Anna Arivalayam to milk, curd, ghee, butter and milk within their shops or private cold The colony houses mostly daily (TRAI) ordered that DTH “The Centre has created a talk to the DMK leader and the CHENNAI: Vendors at the for a minimum of three days and a storage units on High wagers including domestic providers to allow customers to situation wherein channels that cost leader of the Opposition in the TN Koyambedu wholesale market will maximum of a month at the cold Road and where the workers, construction workers, pick the channels they wanted and 100 rupees, now cost 1000 rupees. legislative Assembly M K Stalin to now be able to store their storage. We also plan to install costs are much higher. plumbers and drivers, who buy discuss a suitable course of action vegetables and fruits for up to a trolley systems and lifts later to The vendors also had to incur goods from the NSA for reuse. in order to get the government to month at the newly inaugurated avoid manual operation,” said John transportation charges and this was “Much of the waste is collected reduce these taxes on cable TV 2,500 tonne cold storage facility Ashirvad, store manager at the one of the reasons behind the rise from the affluent streets around subscriptions. which belongs to Tamil Nadu Co- TANFED cold storage unit. in the prices of fruits and Kotturpuram. The collected glass “All channels should be operative Marketing Federation Ltd Though the facility offers longer vegetables, they said. and metal waste is clean and accessible to the people, especially (TANFED). shelf life, it does not guarantee the “The facility was poorly reusable,” says Aseem, who was the poor. The state government is The facility was renovated at a good quality of vegetables. So maintained. Different vegetables took over the scrap business from trying to get rid of cable operators, cost of Rs 2.15 crore, for the first some vendors do not prefer using used to be stored together at the his father and later expanded the and this means the loss of many time since it was installed at the the cold storage facility. same temperature because of which business putting in place jobs,” Santhanam said. market by former Chief Minister “I prefer selling all the they would sometimes rot and start sustainable practices WHAT ARE “We have written to the GST J.Jayalalithaa in 1995. It has been vegetables I have before the day stinking. As not many people were THEY? after coming in contact council, now we have Stalin’s upgraded with provisions to set ends. Sometimes when we keep the using the facility two years back, with the Paperman Foundation. backing as well,” he added. different temperatures for different vegetables in the cold storage, they the officials also started storing Dheeraj, a 25-year-old owner of A cable television operator said commodities which would ensure a tend to shrink, especially tomatoes non-perishable commodities like jewellery shop in the area, says the new TRAI rule would help longer shelf life for vegetables and and brinjals. People then refuse to green chillies and coriander,” said “The mart helps us reduce the people living in other states where fruits. buy those vegetables and we are Rajammal, a vegetable vendor at waste in the area, although there is the cable prices were high, unlike The vendors are charged forced to dump them at the end of the Koyambedu vegetable market. a lot more awareness required. as in Tamil Nadu. between Rs 14 and Rs 150 a month the day,” said Durairajan, a Similarly, eight storage facilities People still throw out the waste Local cable operators feared that depending on the commodity and vegetable vendor at the market. were also opened at Madurai, from their windows here. Neither, The Tamizha Cable Operators Association (TCOA) during a they would lose their revenue share the quantity they want to store. Earlier, due to poor maintenance Thiruvannamalai, Virudhunagar do they segregate waste unless its press meet in Chennai. | GOOGLE IMAGES, TCOA because of this new rule. “The vendors can store fruits, of the cold storage facility, vendors and Tirupur in Tamil Nadu. glass or paper that they can sell.” A day in the corridors of justice PRAGATI K.B. recently. My parents are two lawyers doing “The pay gap is huge. And that is the Madurai Kamraj University were contesting the work of six,” she says. appeal of those jobs,” she says and adds that this. CHENNAI: On the crowded sidewalk of the Because of the sheer workload her parents she has herself contemplated jumping into “This is the third litigation in the matter busy Parry’s Corner, opposite the Madras had, she got an opportunity to submit her first the corporate sector. “Of course it bothers me and I’m tired of this case,” she says. High Court building, street hawkers are final arguments before a judge just three that I can’t afford to take those exotic However, Tanvi’s office has successfully haggling with customers. Winding her way months into practice, in 2015. Junior lawyers holidays that some of my friends can,” Tanvi stayed the recruitment of 110 posts until the through the crowd, Tanvi N. S. nods and generally wait for years before arguing their says. matter is resolved. smiles at the hawkers, most of them, her first case. As Tanvi goes about preparing and While Tanvi waits to argue this matter, her clients. That case, she recalls dealt with police organising documents, records and manuals father is arguing a “high-stakes” matter in Her office has been fighting their eviction atrocities against a group of refugees. “The for the day’s hearings, she explains that she Court Hall 6. He has been appointed amicus case for years now. judge agreed that yes, there was police has a service matter, regarding recruitments curiae in a suo motu case regarding the illegal Tanvi works with her parents V. Suresh, harassment and misuse of power, and yet to the post of Sanitation Inspectors with the mining of beach sand on the coast of Tamil National General Secretary, PUCL and dismissed the case,” she says. Greater Chennai Corporation, tabled before Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Orissa. Nagasaila, both veteran advocates. Their “I keep wondering if I should have the court “Beach sand has radioactive material in modest office in Hussaina Manzil has a presented it differently and whether I wasn’t Completion of a certificate course after the natural state, which when extracted portrait of K. G. Kannabiran, her parents’ the right person to tell the judge. I don’t 10th standard was one of the criteria for fetches a lot of money. Lakhs of tonnes of mentor, as the only piece of adornment on the know,” she says. these appointments until the rules were this sand has been mined illegally, and my walls. “People my age are not opting for such amended and a post-graduate diploma was father has been trying to prove this,” Tanvi “They still abide by his principles, of litigation anymore. Law school does not mandated instead. The Gandhigram explains. charging on the basis of the case and not on prepare us for it either. The coaching is very University had wrongfully claimed “I’m not saving the world. I don’t want to the basis of the client,” Tanvi says. corporate law centric,” she says. monopoly in this latter course for over 30 have a savior complex, because it is unfair to Most of their clients are marginalised and Tanvi earns Rs. 30,000 per month, after years now, to the chagrin of the students of the victim. I’m not doing them a favour by underprivileged. having worked for three years; but her other universities and colleges. Gandhigram appearing for them on a case, I’m only doing “We don’t get enough money and cannot friends in the corporate law sector started students were given preference in my job,” Tanvi says and adds that not giving afford more lawyers. Our office has a clerk, with a pay package of Rs. 8 lakh to Rs 12 recruitments because of this, and Tanvi’s herself too much credit is how she manages my father, mother and me. One junior joined lakh per annum. clients, students of one such university- the to go on advocating everyday. building. |PAVITRA VENKATESWARAN Edition 7 Page 3_Layout 1 3/19/2019 9:39 AM Page 1

THE WORD CHENNAI March 15, 2019 CITYSCAPE 3

NIKITAT SINGhH eir life is waste MWomaenh’s tiealma alsso pbrovuideisl sedrv ictesr foar rietniresd e maploty eeIsC F CHENNAI: The pungent smell of NEETHU S rotting waste and toxic air particles are nothing unusual for the 43-year- CHENNAI: Welding, hammering old Saroja, one of the hundreds of and forging steel have always been workers who separate waste at the considered difficult tasks garbage mounds in the performed only by men. dump yard along the However, at the Integral Coach High Road. Factory (ICF), women fitters and Saroja, who belongs to a family welders of the Mahila Shakthi of rag pickers like many of her Squad have broken this perception counterparts, has been rummaging and helped build a train by welding through the waste with bare hands metal. and at times barefoot for the past 30 The Mahila Shakthi section of years. the factory is engaged in “We injure ourselves at times. fabricating heavy structures like We are aware of the risk of stainless steel sidewalls and arc infections, but we cannot afford to welding. go to the doctor each time. Many of They weld and forge the shell of us have already extracted the coach into the correct shape; the respiratory issues and skin task that previously belonged to allergies,” she said. male workers. The area’s rag pickers— many of Rag picker near Kodungaiyur dumpyard NIKITA SINGH Some of the women are also them senior citizens, disabled involved in the making of Mahila Shakthi members working at the welding section in the ICF V GANESAN persons and children, have been workers at the dumpyard. can get,” said a 27-year-old Manoj, temperature sensing devices and battling to get formally inducted as “We provide masks, aprons, who had begun working as a rag inspection of lights, cables and Mahila Shakthi division was started nine Mahila Shakthi teams”. Apart from the heavy tasks, the a worker of the Greater Chennai shoes and jackets to the workers at picker at the age of eight and had circuit breakers. in March 2018. “A majority of the squad consists Mahila Shakthi team in the Corporation for years. the dump yards. Two sets of never been to a school. “Twenty five women are “Members of this section are of workers in the age group of 22 settlement section are providing At present, the Chennai uniform are provided to each of “I earn Rs 500 a day here but working in my section. The squad proving that women can take up to 57 years”, she added. services for the retired employees. Corporation formally employs them. Every three months medical there are many risks involved. We is all about teamwork. In my manufacturing works and not just The workers have completed ITI “We feel proud and supported about 45 workers at the dump yard camps are conducted for the dump even find bio-medical waste here at section, it’s just like everything fell soft, simple jobs” said Lavanya, and diploma courses and selected that people are recognising our which is 269 acres and receives at yard workers. Moreover, loans are times.” right”, said R Sharulatha, Senior Chief Publicity Officer, ICF. after training and test. work”, said Lekha M, member of least 1,600 tonnes of waste every made available to them through the Although the Chennai Section Officer of shop 20. “The squad is the first such “I was very happy to be a part of the team. day. National Safai Karamchari Corporation official denied any The Mahila Shakthi members of group of its kind in the Indian the team. It encouraged me in many “Our work might seem like a A Superintending Engineer at the Commission.” chances of medical waste being this shop had manufactured an Railways”, she added. ways”, said the 61 year old tough task for others, but people Solid Waste Management However, the rag pickers said dumped there, several rag pickers entire coach last year. Hema Ramesh, Assistant Muniyammal, a retired welder who working here are thrilled to get in department of Chennai Corporation they did not get these in the absence said they dealt with the red and The brainchild of ICF General Personnel manager, ICF, said was in the Mahila Shakthi team till the production of coaches,” she said that the government body did of a formal contract. green coloured bags of medical Manager Sundanshu Mani, the “Currently ICF has 130 members in last year. added. not plan to employ any more “There are no other jobs that I waste. Women face phone Growing popularity of coworking spaces NIKEETA GAUTAM repetitive operations like software, harassment daily marketing and designing can thrive MUSKAAN SHARMA department of the college. CHENNAI: Entrepreneurs, in co-working spaces. Departments However, another student, G professionals and freelancers are like R &D, human resource and CHENNAI: One in three Indian Greeta, 18, said that a month ago getting logistics and opportunity to other areas which always require women in Indian metro cities her entire class of 44 students interact with like-minded research are not found working reported receiving lewd calls and received WhatsApp video calls individuals with less effort and well in this kind of work text messages, according to a from the same number over the expense in coworking spaces. environment. recent survey period of a Coworking spaces which are Sandhya Raju, community by Truecaller, week. offices shared by employees from manager of Smartworks says that a popular “Two of our different organizations, are retail is an area which cannot come phone classmates lost disrupting the traditional work in the co-working space as it has to number their phones environment. deal with a large number of identification around that Breejesh Ganesh, Founder of customers. app with a time. We think Acuizen, a software startup, who Though coworking spaces are 100 million someone uses Artisans Lab as his office becoming popular, there are some active users accessed our space, says “Here, we get to meet challenges, mostly because of in India. class’s professionals and freelancers from absence of a startup policy till Sangeeta WhatsApp diverse background. We engage in recently when Tamil Nadu Priya, 20, a group from one insightful conversation and government released ‘Startup & B.Sc. 3rd of the phones,” sometimes get to collaborate in Innovation policy 2018-2023’ in year student she added. business deals.” January 2019. at Dr. MGR The People from diverse K. Yevanth, branch manager of Janaki College of Arts and Science phenomenon of phone harassment backgrounds including IT, digital Osprey Shipping, a Singapore for Women said that among her is rife as 52 per cent of women design, writing and others come to based company has set up its space classmates, receiving explicit text surveyed by Truecaller said that our space, says Abdul Rahman, in Karya. “This is a better option messages is “quite common.” they received calls or texts once a founder of Artisan Lab which because we can start with just two “They are mostly WhatsApp week filled with sexual content; started in 2017. months of deposit and every messages. They introduce while 45 per cent said they Rahman says that when they logistics is taken care of.” themselves and when we say we do received sexual videos and started their space, they had to “However, we had to leave not know them, they call it a wrong pictures, 9 per cent of women educate youths and startups about iShare, a coworking space based on number but try to continue the reported facing such harassment concept of sharing working space Professionals from diverse background coworking at Karya space. NIKEETA GOUTAM nine months ago conversation on pretext,” she almost daily. for rent. because a big company came up added. Additionally, the survey reported Spaces like AtWork, Artisan Lab suggestions from people around, provide coworking spaces for high- foreigners and backpackers too. with a huge number of employees While the students discuss these that 38 per cent of women reported and Karya are not incubators. They helping with each other’s network end MNCs and corporate sectors. Karya hosts events including board which compelled the small incidents among themselves, they the harassment in 2018 to the only provide space and a platform and growing,” says Ashwin “It is a cost-effective option for gaming, meet-ups and idea sharing departments like us to move out,” rarely confide in their parents police as compared to 10 per cent to get mentorship and investment. Shanker, founder of AtWork. companies that want to set up platforms during nights and he shares. about them. in 2017. AtWork launched in 2014 when These spaces charge Rs 5,000 to certain departments here,” says weekends. AtWorks frequently Another challenge is that if the “The students do not tell their A sub-inspector at the Cyber the concept of co-working had just Rs 8,000 per desk monthly Karan Madan, Chennai Center organises workshops on design companies register their office parents as they fear their phones Crime Cell said that even though begun in Chennai mainly targets depending upon the needs of the Manager of Ikeva. thinking. address with the name of the co- might be taken away, so they tell they were aware of the recurrent the early stage tech-based startups. customer. Basic facilities like desk, Similarly, Smart Works, another The high end spaces Smartworks working space, the founders can us. But since the numbers are unwanted messages and calls on “Coworking space is not only chair, electricity, WiFi, parking and coworking space caters to the needs and Ikeva hosts formal mentorship have problem. different every time, we cannot do apps like WhatsApp, they had not about getting a table and chair, it is tea or coffee, meeting halls come of BPOs and MNCs. These spaces programmes for the startups co- “Many times, we get into trouble much to help other than asking received a high number of about sharing each others’ under the basic package for every charge around Rs 10,000 to Rs working with them. when the co-habiting companies them to block the numbers,” said a complaints about them from experiences, learning from each co-worker. 12,000 per desk a month. Founders and coworkers say that don’t file their income tax on time,” professor in the English women. others’ mistakes, asking There are other places which Artisan Lab welcomes only professions requiring says Ashwin Shanker. Couple feeds 80 homeless people daily Police thwart protest MUSKAAN SHARMA husband ensures it is distributed by more and feed more people”, he AMIR MALIK series by workers from various 6 p.m.,” she says. says. factories including L&T Valve, CHENNAI: In her kitchen in While the couple buys all the However, the couple does not CHENNAI: Around 520 workers Simpsons, Rane TRW Group, GE , 30-year-old Shareen essential food supplies with their feed everyone on the streets. were detained on March 12 to Alstom and Amrutanjan. Much as Joshua cooks lunch for herself, her own money, they do receive “We reach out to people who prevent their protest against Royal in the previous protests in husband, Johnson and around 80 occasional donations of rice, oil cannot afford to feed themselves Enfield and they were released late Thiruvottiyur and one in Hosur, the others every day. and money from their friends and regularly. These are people who are in the evening, according to a union police detained the workers. The couple has taken it upon neighbours. deaf and dumb or suffer from official. “The police took us to However this time, the police did themselves to provide a meal a day But the donations are not mental illnesses. Most of them are Chrompet police station, 200 not even allow the workers to to the homeless around the city regular so the couple spends extremely old and frail and cannot workers were from Royal Enfield assemble and raise slogans.” through their NGO called ‘Feed of around Rs. 17,000 every month move,” says Shareen. and the rest were from other Sampath claimed “Our protests Love’ on supplies other than fresh To ensure that only the neediest unions,” said Sampath from the have reached Global ears. “In 2014, while on our way vegetables. get the food, Jonathan does what Working People Trade Union Industrial Global Union has urged to home, we saw a man crying “Some months we might get a Shareen calls “a 24 hour check”. Council. the Royal Enfield management to with hunger at the few bags of rice but then we won’t “He dresses up like a homeless “Around 175 workers were withdraw all action against us.” station. We gave him a food get any for the next two months. person and sits with the beggars for terminated. Some office bearers The Financial Express quoted the parcel we were carrying and Since we do not have any constant a day. We get permission from the were sent to other States,” he global union as saying that “We are kept coming back to give him sponsor, the donations are local police to do so. added. A senior police official deeply concerned over continuing packets of food every day until random,” says Jonathan. He sleeps with them too and said “The demonstration was not violations of workers’ rights and one day we were told that he The duo reaches out to the keep a lookout for anyone who allowed as the Model Code of vindictive actions against the staff died in the night. We started homeless in Tambaram, gives them food or enough money Conduct for the Lok Sabha election at Royal Enfield’s plant Feed of Love to help out others , , , to buy food. Another friend of ours has come into effect barring any in Chennai. “ like him,” said Shareen. and some areas of keeps checking on him once in procession.” However Sampath “More than 290 workers were When they started out, the Velachery and Taramani. every four hours,” she says. said “We had earlier taken the subjected to the vindictive action. couple bought packets of food They are supported by seven The two also keeps in touch permission. The police did not Around 174 trainee workers, from eateries and restaurants volunteers who reach out through with the people they help and communicate us about the employed for more than 480 days, but had to stop as the process social media but, the volunteers are monitor them for over a year. conduct.”The workers have been legally eligible to become became too expensive and the not regular and assist them only for When they gain their trust, they demanding increase in wages and permanent workers, were sent quality of food deteriorated. a little time. try to rehabilitate them by bonus and permanent jobs. home” Valter Sanches, the global “From 2017, I started to cook “If we can get more volunteers sending them to government Jonathan Joshua distributes packets of food to homeless Chandrika, a labour activist, said union leader was quoted as saying food everyday by 2 p.m. and my we can expand our reach, cook shelters. women in Madipakkam MUSKAAN SHARMA “This was the third protest in a by The Financial Express. 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THE WORD CHENNAI March 15, 2019 4 CITYSCAPE Regulate Tik Tok, say users Chennai City FC to NEETHU S Midhila Madhav, a researcher at last October, allegedly viral online and gain popularity. Anna University, believes the app because he was trolled for dressing “Proper channelisation can CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu should be banned. “People are up as a woman in one of his Tik convert this app into an app to pull out of Information Minister M getting addicted to it. It is full of Tok videos. showcase talent,” said Manikandan Manikandan might want the Tik vulgar and explicit content,” she Selvapriya K, a lab technician in R, a resident of . NOEL A CORERA Under the new format, the I- years, Chennai City FC will have to Tok app banned, but the public in said. Adyar, said that However, Ananthan K, a resident of League and the ISL will be merged fight it out in the second division. the State is split on whether there According to some, making the app a said it was high time the CHENNAI: Chennai City Football and a new league will be formed. Last season, the same happened should be a blanket ban on the suspending/ banning paid app would government banned it. "It’s the Club (FC), along with six other I- Only the giants Mohun with surprise I-League champions platform or just proper regulation accounts of those who reduce the menace. fault of the government. Some league clubs, have announced their Bagan and East Bengal will be in the Aizawl FC. However, they of it. misuse the app will Karthika countries have already banned the decision to withdraw from the Hero first division of the new league. appealed to the AIFF and protested Manikandan recently announced help. “Instead of a Selvaraj, a lecturer app,” said the 28-year-old. Super Cup, until the All India The Chennai City FC which against the merger of the two that the State would move to ban complete ban, in a city college, A Sub Inspector at the Cyber Football Federation (AIFF) clarifies recently shifted base to leagues, which was then cancelled. the app due to its explicit content. specific accounts that thinks the app is Cell, , said “apps like Tik the future of the I-League. was on the brink of relegation to This year, Chennai City FC, Quess However, according to reports in publish and share diverting Tok are very vulnerable. While it The Super Cup, a knockout the second division of I-League last East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, The Hindu, IT experts believe that vulgar content must youngsters from makes a celebrity out of its users, it tournament, is scheduled to start on season. However, it managed to NEROCA FC, Aizawl FC, the app, which has over 100 million be banned,” said studies. “Young also exposes children and adults to March 15 with the top six teams each turn the tide, unlike its counterpart Gokulam Kerala FC and Minerva downloads on Play Store, can only Mahalakshmi R, a resident of school children are recording videos a wide range of risks. It is better not from the I-League and the Indian Chennaiyin FC, which came last in Punjab FC are protesting against be regulated. Adyar. in their school uniforms, thereby to download such apps.” Super League (ISL) competing. Four the ISL this season. the inefficiency of AIFF. Tik Tok allows users to upload Apart from explicit content, the disclosing their whereabouts, which He said that the cell was getting more teams from the remaining eight However, Chennaiyin FC will 22-year-old winger Alexander 15-second videos on social media app also throws up ‘challenges’ is making them vulnerable to a lot of complaints about the will join the tournament after battling still play in the first division of the Jesuraj, who was in town for platforms. promoting public nuisance. In bullying,” she added. content posted in the app. “As it is it out in the qualifying rounds. new premier Indian league, along personal reasons, hopes to play in the “As people who are passionate Kerala, the police had to issue a Others said it is disrupting social a Chinese app, we cannot ban it. It Recently crowned the I-league with the Mohun Bagan and East top division one day. “All my about acting use Tik Tok, banning warning to youth who were life. “Instead of people-people can be done by the CERT-In champions after beating Minerva Bengal. teammates are ecstatic about it would take away an opportunity dancing in front of moving vehicles relations, there are people- [Indian Computer Emergency and Punjab FC in their last fixture, However, I-League CEO Sunando becoming I-League champions this to express their talents. It should be as part of ‘Nillu Nillu’ challenge. technology relations now,” said Response Team] and we are taking Chennai City FC might have to play Dhar told the press, “There might season. We heard about the merger, regulated,” said Deepika R, a According to a report in The Karthikeyan, a resident of Adyar. measures to prevent the creation in the 2nd tier of the new format of not be relegation and promotion for but we haven’t thought much about student of Dr. MGR Janaki New Indian Express, a 23-year-old Most respondents believe users and spreading of obscene content,” Indian Football formulated by the the first couple of seasons.” it yet because we’re still College, Chennai. jumped in front of a train in upload explicit videos to make it go he added. AIFF. This means that for the next few celebrating,” he said.

REVIEW Some gore and screams, but very little more PRAGATI K B generated microfiction aimed at the potential to give the play scaring readers, and one doesn’t some layered depth. But simplistic CHENNAI: The trailer of the play know if it is based on true facts. reading of complex issues, even ends with “this is not for the faint The prisoners or subjects are though boldly portrayed, was an hearted.” Later, the anchor, after promised freedom after 30 days in opportunity lost. Akimoto (centre) with the chefs at AKI BAY | PRIYANKA KAUL asking the audience to turn off return for their cooperation with An artist that likes to inflict their mobile phones, sombrely the experiment.Their confinement pain upon his lovers and portray The cast engaging with audience during the show | NEHA M again announces “the play is not chamber is administered with Gas that pain in his paintings because for the faint hearted. In case of 76IA, which eliminates the need to “pain is an emotion that has not A CHANGE FROM emergencies, the exits are on the sleep and has “enormous military been celebrated,” a young Oedipal For the love of right, left and back.” potential.” son that commits matricide since However, Subject UH1317, All three convicts are sexual he loves his mother and “that was WHAT WE GET touted a psychological thriller, offenders with very dark and the only way [he] could have merely offered loud screams, some murky pasts. As days pass, we see [her],” and a repressed cross- NEHA MALARA toilets to show the poor state of Japanese food gore and straightforward visuals to them getting restless with violent dresser who pushes his son into sanitation for women. PRIYANKA KAUL said she wanted to divorce him, but an audience who were anticipating mood swings. prostitution- all get a linear CHENNAI: With no stage, no Scripted by Saivarsha he was firm on his idea. a jolt and scare show. The smallest of stimuli elicits a treatment. lights, no costumes and no Seetharaman, the play was as CHENNAI: If you’re a fan of In Chennai there were other Light and Blind Production’s strong reaction. And all along, the The actors did a commendable director, the play ‘What SHE engaging as it was simple. With no Anime or you read Manga comics, problems. second play, Subject UH1317, is audience waits with bated breath job in these scenes of reckoning. wants’, was a change from the great proclamations or theories, it you obviously must have dreamt of “There have been times when an investigator’s reconstruction of for the shock that they were Worthy of mention are Hari usual crop that preaches feminism. aimed at a simple objective that slurping Ramen or Sushi the we had no electricity, and I held my a Russian sleep experiment promised, but in vain. Ramakrishnan, the director of the Eight women and seven men took celebration of women cannot be traditional way- with chopsticks! phone’s flash light while the conducted on three prisoners On day 14 of the experiment, play, who played the Oedipal son; to the Besant Nagar beach early confined to a single day while their To make this dream come alive, customers had the food. Isn’t it a during the Cold War. the gas has affected the subjects’ Shubh Mukherjee, the artist; Sunday morning (March 3) for a problems are ignored on other Satoshi Akimoto has brought sign that they actually enjoyed the The investigator pores over cognition and their personal fears Denver Anthony Nicholas, the play whose cast was the city. days. delicious Japanese food to Chennai. food? That is encouraging enough documents and dictaphone records start taking hold. cross-dresser and Ponni Suresh, Clad in black, the actors broke It hit the mark as many people Owner of the AKI BAY @TVR, for me,” he grins. to learn of the horrors that We are made privy to their the cross-dresser’s son. character and storyline as they engaged in conversations with the Akimoto quit his job in the R&D “It was my last chance to jump transpired within the sealed offences and their life events There was enough blood in engaged with the audience. The performers after the play. department at Nissan, Tokyo to into a new country and be the chamber where the experiment which lead up to the offences these scenes, added by make-up idea behind the 20-minute play “We need more platforms to start the restaurant in Chennai. number one,” he says. was conducted. This particular through their hallucinations. artist Dasaradhan, to make the was to get people to question their discuss such issues. Not just the Akimoto and Chennai got first On whether he was ever scared experiment is supposed to be a This segment f the play makes “faint-hearted” gag and the rest idea of feminism and equality. It greater issues like domestic abuse acquainted to each other a few that his idea might sink, he replies Creepypasta legend, a user- wonderful use of music and had sigh. focused on the issues faced by a and sexual harassment but also years back when he was sent for a with a confident smile. girl child, a young woman, a small things that make them 10-month long project in the city. “No. If I ever had even a bit of newlywed and a woman in her late uncomfortable,” said Nithin R, a Even at the age of 43, there was doubt about it, I would have fifties. This was meant to convey college student. nothing that could stop him from actually never started it.” how women face barriers in all Govind Murugan, Convenor of doing something different. AKI BAY @ TVR in RA Puram stages of their life. the volunteer-led organization, In Chennai he found the can boast of its authentic Japanese They presented scenes from said, “Sexual harassment is not the ‘authentic’ Japanese food was cuisine because of the team in the everyday life; from public to only problem women face. From spicy, in complete contrast to how kitchen. private spaces; from home to birth to death, there are problems. it tasted in Japan. One of the chefs is from Japan office to parks; they presented the We need people to understand and “In Japan, there are 35,000 while the other was recently taken subtle and inherent biases against give them clarity on their own ramen (noodle) restaurants and on board and has 17 years of women. behavior.” He said plays like these 7,000 new ones open up every year experience in Japanese cuisine. While sexual harassment is an were meant to not preach but get as it is like a staple food there. Chicken Gyoza (dumplings) and oft-repeated issue for many, we people, especially men, to question Here, I could actually introduce the Chicken Karaage (Japanese fried forget that society discriminates in their attitudes. original ramen and get people chicken) are the most loved, apart many other, often ignored, ways. He emphasised, “Men are the acquainted with it, other than sushi from Paintan and Chintan (ramen The play implored the audiences to main audience as they need to which has already gained variations). question their own behavior change first.” He also said that the popularity,” says Akimoto who Keeping in mind the Indian towards the women in their life. larger issues aside, even small took a two week intensive course to palette, more extensive and spicier The play was performed by things like casual sexism in learn cooking before opening a add-ons might be introduced in the Yaazh street play team and everyday life needed to be restaurant. menu soon as the Japanese organized by the Dhagam addressed. It was a big decision to quit his population in Chennai is just Foundation, which has been at the Murugan also stressed that the job and leave his family in Japan to around 1500. helm of women empowerment in government had not even begun to come to Chennai and exhaust all “I want Chennaites to enjoy the the city since 2015. It protested accept the daily struggles of his savings on a new venture. He authenticity for which AKI BAY was against the rise in tax on sanitary women. He felt that the women had to sell his apartment in Japan opened. But some exclusives might napkins. It also undertook a were criticized if they raised their for funds. His wife, jokingly, had be added soon as well,” he said. ‘Subject UH1317’ was performed at Alliance Francaise this Sunday | PRIYA PRINCE massive survey of 600 public voice against any issues. A mime in time to save lives on the road NEHA MALARA threaten or shout at him from your eyes away from him. His Thozhan people came to rescue their cars or bikes but at that movements are deliberate as he me,” he said laughing. CHENNAI: Every Sunday, distance, he think they are clips his imaginary helmet on, He seems unfazed by these Veeramani Sekar paints his face encouraging him. So, he carries drives an imaginary car while incidents and continues to use white, hangs a board with safety on blissfully unaware.” talking on the phone. mime effectively. rules written on it around his neck Three people from the However, his most endearing “Mime is a global language and stands at traffic signals in Foundation are always around moment is when he says sorry, plus it is difficult to get angry . him to keep the situation from with his tongue hanging out and with someone with a comical For the next two hours, he tells going out of hand. head tilted to a side. He has had face. I think everyone should people to put their seatbelt on, Sekar became a part of the more practice with the “sorry learn mime, especially the taps on their windows if they are Accident Free Nation after an face”, as he calls it, than with his policemen,” he said. If policemen talking on the phone and even accident four years ago where his other movements. also “mimed” to tell motorists to helps people put their helmets on. | THOZHAN daughter, Annusha, who is now in Sekar said that two drunken follow traffic rules, they would be Sekar is deaf and dumb but his Veeramani Sekar third standard, was injured. men, one bearded and the other more inclined to follow the rules. expressions have been the life of He is loved by the people, who Since then, he has performed at well-built, almost hit him at the Following traffic rules is a Ambattur for the last two years. A enquire after him if he misses events in colleges, schools and Tiruvanmiyur signal. major concern for the city. mime artist, you are his target if even a single Sunday at his firms. However, he prefers the “They were speaking so fast, it According to the “Road accident you are breaking traffic rules. unofficial post at the Ambattur streets as it gives him greater took me a minute to read their lips analysis in Tamil Nadu, January Sekar is part of the Accident signal. mobility. and understand that they were 2019”, the city recorded 114 Free Nation, an initiative by the However, not everyone It is hard to imagine the shy furious. When people speak so deaths due to road accidents. Thozhan Foundation that is approves of his “vigilantism”. Sekar as a crusader of civic fast, I have to focus hard on their Among the road accidents in the working to create awareness of Radhakrishnan M, Founder of responsibility. But the minute he lips and cannot see their facial state, 47.28 per cent were due to traffic rules in the city since 2012. Thozhan, says, “People often starts miming, it is hard to take expressions. Thank God, the not wearing a helmet. Sekar at one of his demonstrations | THOZHAN