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Volume No 20 Issue No 1 January 24, 2020 LAB JOURNAL OF THE ASIAN COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM No income from Illegal eateries Special camp for MRTS shops in T. Nagar UDID card Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Road accidents down Cheintnayi C owrpoaratiiont eslec tfionos nrot hietlds fo r Malmoast fyouor yer ars ANEESA PA electoral reforms in the state local but fatalities increase bodies, said that the delay in elec - The delay in declaring urban local tion is because of the fear of current AATREYEE DHAR fatalities increased in the city. fatalities, deaths due to non-wea - body elections in is be - government that it will lose power. recorded 5725 accidents in ring of helmets amounted to 1588 cause of statutory reasons, said an He said that the government was Chennai city has recorded the hig - 2018 and 5433 in 2019 while the with Chennai accounting for 55 officer at the Tamil Nadu Election creating reasons to delay the elec - hest number of road accidents and “target” set for 2019 was 4496 ac - deaths. Although the number of Commission. “The government in - tion, and finally, elections happe - fatalities despite an overall fall in cidents. However the fatalities rose road accidents on State highways troduced nine new districts and the ned due to the intervention of the the number of such incidents in by 0.4 per cent with 1002 deaths in came down when compared to [Tamil Nadu] Delimitation [Com - Supreme Court. Tamil Nadu, according to data from 2018 and 1006 deaths in 2019. 2018, State highways recorded mission] Act [2017], which made “This is the first time that the the State Transport Department. The maximum number of acci - 14813 accidents followed by Na - the procedure complicated,” he local body elections are happening The number of road accidents tional Highways recording 13579 said. He added that the elections in two phases,” he added. came down by 25.60 per cent and accidents in 2019.Out of a total of process was completed excluding Arumugam said that the proxy fatalities by around 43.10 per cent 44197 deaths in 2019, fatal acci - the nine districts. “We will conduct body which is functioning in the in 2019 compared to 2016 in the CHENNAI STATS dents owing to the fault of the dri - the urban local body election corporation consists of bureaucrats state. Despite various amendments JAN-SEPT 2019 ver amounted to 43526 which is soon,” he said. and is not reliable. He added that including an increase in the fines Road accidents: 5433 98.48 per cent of the deaths. The urban local body election the public will have better access to Civic issues abound in the city in the absence of elected for traffic violations made to the As per the Supreme Court direc - date is yet to be announced in the councillors during emergencies Motor Vehicles Act 1988 in order tives on suspending driving licen - Councillors CITIZEN MATTERS Deaths: 1006 state even after the declaration of since they are elected representati - to improve on-road safety, Chennai ces for overspeeding, overloading results of the rural local body elec - ves. He claimed that there are no diffi - “It is better not to have elected recorded 5433 road accidents du - Deaths due to non of goods, red light jumping, using tions in the beginning of January. “Having a special body of bu - culties in administration due to the councillors,” said the Accounts of - ring Jan-Sept 2019. wearing of helmets:55 mobile phone while driving and The previous election was conduc - reaucrats representing public is not absence of councillors and the ficer at the Audit section of the Under the Sustainable Develop - overloading of persons in goods ted in 2011 and the tenure of the democracy,” he added. Mayor. Health department. She said that ment Goal on Road Safety for the carriages, around 12651 licences local bodies got over in 2016. From Representing his organisation, But most of the officials at Grea - politicians always meddle with pro - year 2019, the stakeholder depart - dents in the state were caused by were suspended for the violation of then, the Greater Chennai Corpora - Arumugam had filed a petition in ter Chennai Corporation stayed si - grams for their benefit. “Now, it is ments such as Transport, Police, two-wheelers with 40.94 per cent rules in September 2019. tion (GCC) has no Mayor or coun - the to ban the lent when asked about the delay in going smoother since there is a Highways, Health and Education of total accidents followed by four Regarding the efforts to control cillors representing its 200 wards. announcement of rural local body the election. “Everything is going high-level committee for the audits work along with district collectors -wheelers with 28.17 per cent of road accidents, G. Sundaram Five new districts were formed bi - election until the urban local body normally,” said an official, who re - and special officer who is easy to to create awareness and to reduce total accidents. Murthy, Regional Transport Officer furcating and trifurcating the exis - election is over. fused to give his name. coordinate with. If the election is the number of accidents. These de - The maximum number of fata - (Chennai West) said, “We are focu - ting four districts, taking the total Sukumar Chitti Babu, Revenue Anitha P. (32), computer assis - declared soon, many ongoing pro - partments work together to ensure lities involved two-wheelers adding sing on minimising road accidents number of districts in the state to 37 officer, in charge of conducting tant at the Education Department grams will stop for at least two- that the number of accidents do not up to 32.59 per cent of the road fa - due to drunken driving, use of cell in 2019. corporation election at the GCC, said that there was no information three weeks,” she added. exceed the “target”. talities mainly due to bike riders not phones and non-wearing of helmets Senthil Arumugam, chief secre - said, “We are ready to conduct the regarding election after 2011. She Another officer at GCC said of - Even though the number of road wearing helmets. Fatalities invol - as most of the drivers violate traf - tary of Satta Panchayat Iyakkam, election whenever the Election added that there are no issues in ficers are afraid to speak because of accidents decreased in 2019 as ving four wheelers were 25.41 per fic rules during the road safety one of the NGOs working to make Commission announces the date.” coordinating programs. the cases in the court. compared to 2018, the number of cent. Out of a total number of 2801 week.”

Work & Bonding ANJALY‘ RAIJ t is aCourt wpill giver judogementt ine our s“Ntot o nlya the CAgA, wea are aliso nst fascism’ favour, but as it did not happen, the protesting against Section 41 in The only thing we can do right now only thing we can do now is ‘pro - Tamil Nadu. We are challenging is, “protest, protest, protest,” said test’.” the act in the Madras High court,” Aysha Renna, a student activist Ishwari, an advocate, who was said Dr. Nargis Sultana who has from Jamia Millia Islamia Univer - the first to chant and lead the slo - been actively protesting in Chennai sity in New Delhi. gans of azadi on Thursday, said, against the act to show her “dis - Renna was here with Ladeeba “You see her [pointing towards her sent.” Farzana, also a student activist daughter], she is nine years old, and Section 41 of the Chennai City from Jamia, at the All Women’s she was detained by police at Val - Police Act says a person needs to Rally against CAA-NPR-NRC at luvar Kottam. I will protest because take police permission to stage pro - . this is the need of this time.” tests in public places. If not, the The anti-CAA (Citizenship “The protests started on Decem - person can be remanded in custody Amendment Act) and anti-NRC ber 19, and we will go on till we for up to 15 days. (National Register of Citizens) pro - need it because it puts pressure on Mohammed Ghoush, a protest tests started in Chennai on Decem - the government,” said Vikas B M, organiser, said the protests will go ber 19, after Jamia witnessed police an LLB student from Jindal Uni - on for a year. “We are not just figh - brutality against students on De - versity. He said that the govern - ting against this Act, we are figh - Protestors gathered for an All Women’s Rally ANJALY RAJ cember 15 for protesting against ment fears the voices of dissent and ting fascism,” Ghoush explained, the controversial Citizenship the protests are creating a lot more adding, “The whole problem needs ongoing protests as well.” She said, “the protests are ma - Amendment Bill that was passed in awareness of the issue. to be uprooted and thrown out even “The protests are making an im - king people realise that change can Parliament on December 11. Aysha Saraswati, a film-writer, said the if that means uprooting the govern - pact on people and are pressuring a be brought about and that hope is Renna and Ladeeba Farzana emer - CAA was biased not just against ment.” lot of state governments to speak still there.” Mehruni Shah, a 49- ged as the main faces of anti-CAA Muslims but Hindus living in South According to Ghoush, education against this controversial act,” said year-old, came from to take protest in JMI after that. too. “What about the Sri Lan - plays a major role. The agenda is a 20-year-old student who reques - part in the protests. said, “My Talking about the never-ending kan Tamil migrants living here? not just to protest on streets every ted anonymity. She says she has right, to live as a citizen in this A flower seller making garlands on an evening train spirit of their protests, Aysha said, Shouldn’t they too be getting citi - day. “We need to educate people as been participating in almost all the country, has been snatched away, from Chennai Beach to ANMOL ARORA “there was a hope that the Supreme zenship?” she asked. well, which we are doing with the protests in the city. what can I do but protest?” Airport on Coronavirus alert ANITA SHRESTHA The nurse said that there are no Looking for better Health expects to doctors from government hospitals The government has instructed all for the screening and the service health service providers and the air - hasn’t started yet. benefits this time be in the pink port authorities to look for passen - However, K. Kolandaswamy, ABHIJIT PAUL It would be better if there was ANITA SHRESTHA “Hospital expenses for people gers with symptoms of Novel Director at the Directorate of Pu - another option to their returns. are very high and most of the peo - Coronavirus— a new strain of co - blic Health and Preventive Medi - Pensioners and salaried people are Irregularity of pension in non- The allocations in the Union Bud - ple cannot afford it. If the govern - ronavirus that has not been pre - cine, said 3 to 4 doctors were expecting a better deal from the government sectors should be get for the health sector is suffi - ment allocates adequate budget for viously identified in humans. screening passengers with in - Union Budget for the next finan - considered and resolved in this cient but the funds have to be preventive treatment and well- The virus has killed 17 people in fluenza-like illness. cial year, that is expected to be budget, he added. manage properly, say medical ex - equipped trauma centres, it would China, but the airport in Chennai is Talking over the phone, he said presented on February 1. S. Bala (38), who works in an perts ahead of the expected pre - be more helpful for them,” he said. yet to implement the order, accor - that the Directorate has already ins - Murali (62), who has worked in engineering college, comes under sentation of the Budget on In July, the government an - ding to a nurse deployed there. Ho - tructed airports and hospitals to be TVS and in Chen - the non-taxable income group. February 1. nounced Rs 62,659.12 crore outlay wever, a senior medical official alert and look after the passengers nai and retired as an Assistant Ge - But he was concerned about the According to Dr. Balu, Senior for the health sector for 2019-20, said the screening had started. coming from China. neral Manager said, “The interest inflation as the price of commodi - Consultant in the Emergency De - which was around 19 per cent over Coronavirus is known to cause “Screening only inside the air - rate on term deposits for the se - ties of daily usage has increased. partment at VHS Multi-Specialty the budget of 2018-19. illnesses ranging from common port is not sufficient. We have also nior citizens has dipped down Antony (31) and Balakrishnan Hospital, the government increa - -- An amount of Rs 6,400 crore cold to more severe diseases such instructed hospitals and community from 9.5 per cent to 6.5 per cent (42), who work in ICC, a sed the allocation in 2019 was earmarked for the flagship as Middle East Respiratory Syn - health centres to check the patient during the last two and a half Multinational company are BUDGET for the health sector. This health insurance scheme AB- drome and Severe Acute Respira - who comes with symptoms of People with face masks at years. That indicates the intention expecting that the income 2020 year too, he hoped the PMJAY. tory Syndrome, according to World cough, fever, jaundice, diarrhoea Beijing airport PTI of the government to force people exempted from tax will be same amount will be set Navin Kumar, Senior Manager Health Organization. and severe acute respiratory infec - to invest in equities.” increased to Rs. 7 lakh. aside for the health sector. “The of Deepam Educational Society WHO says the common signs in - tion.” Aviation (MoCA) on its official Rajasekaran, who worked in They are also concerned about Budget should be allocated on a for Health (DESH), an NGO, said clude fever, cough, shortness of He said that symptom surveil - website said that thermal screening the Income Tax Department and is the fuel price and said people, priority basis. more funds should be allocated to breath, and breathing difficulties. lance and of travel histo - of passengers arriving from China general secretary of the Tamil who mostly depended on two The Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan treat non-communicable diseases, In more severe cases, an infection ries of patients have begun. and Hong Kong has been extended Nadu Senior Citizen Association, wheelers like them, wanted relief. Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB- especially cancer. can cause pneumonia, severe acute “There is no need to panic. The to Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru talked about the increasing taxes Gopalan Natarajan, an ex-ser - PMJAY) Scheme has been helping “Due to the change in lifestyle, respiratory syndrome, kidney fai - Government is taking precaution. and Kochi on Wednesday. Scree - on the old age citizens. vice person of Bharat Sanchar the rural and urban poor. It needed non-communicable disease cases lure and even death. We request people to take preven - ning at the airports in Delhi, Mum - “The basic exemption tax limit Nigam Limited (BSNL), expres - more encouragement,” he said. are increasing and women don’t Passengers visiting from diffe - tive measures by washing hands, bai and Kolkata, had started one for senior citizens should be in - sed concern over inadequate me - More funds should be given for go to the hospital on time,” he rent countries, especially mainland and avoiding contact with infected week ago. creased to Rs. 5 lakh. The limit is dical benefits from government equipping trauma centres, he said. said. China, were not being screened people.” According to WHO, there is no Rs. 3 lakh at present,” he said. schemes. “More number of people are The government should allocate while arriving at Chennai Interna - He said that the government hos - vaccination developed for this in - He said many veterans faced The insurance premium char - dying in road accidents in compa - funds for health camps and scree - tional Airport, according to a nurse pitals are ready to handle such fection and it could take many problems while filing their In - ged by the private sector was rison to the non-communicable di - ning programs in both rural and who is part of the medical unit de - cases and the isolation wards were years. It is necessary for everyone come Tax Return (ITR) as it was around Rs. 30,000 per annum, seases. The government should urban areas to ensure timely diag - ployed at the airport for emergen - ready. to remain alert and be sensitive in an online process and is difficult which covered a claim of Rs. 5 focus on saving life of the younger nosis and thus reduce the risk, he cies. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil protecting one’s health. for them. lakh to Rs. 6 lakh. population as well,” he said. added. 1 Page 2_Layout 1 1/27/2020 2:58 PM Page 1

2 THE WORD CITYSCAPE CHENNAI January 24, 2020

Commuters seek better facilities Officials cite lack of patronage a big obstacle at MRTS stations

ABHINAV CHAKRABORTY The MRTS, started in 1998 as tenance of facilities like restrooms mains at a gap of 10 minutes, the the country’s first elevated railway and lighting was a concern. In case same went up to anywhere bet - Lack of eateries and bad mainte - line at the time, is operated by the of complaints, whatever was ween 20 to 25 minutes during the nance of existing facilities conti - Southern Railways. maintained by the Rail - rest of the day. nue to plague the city’s Mass Part of Chennai’s ways internally was no - “The MRTS is okay for mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) that wider suburban rail tified to the respective commuting but in terms of fre - runs between Chennai Beach and network, the line serves Under the policy department. quency, it is still inconvenient. It Velachery, according to daily com - more than one lakh pas - changes brought “On the MRTS, needs to go up,” said Ganesh V.K. muters. sengers every day. about in 2017, it was cleanliness of res - (51), a commuter who travels “All stations need to get refres - According to a Sout - decide“d which station trooms is definitely on every day from Thirumayilai to hment centres. Only a few of them hern Railways official, gets what. That is top of the list of com - Park Town station, before catching have these at the moment,” said the number and the why you see facilities plaints we receive. a bus to his office in Purasawal - Damodaran (22), a law student type of passengers dic - Responsibility of clea - kam. like food plazas or who was travelling to tate the kind of facili - ning them has been With the number of passengers certain kinds of stalls from Thirumayilai station. ties that any suburban outsourced, so right travelling on the MRTS increasing “There are no proper restrooms railway station gets. in only some stations now we are somehow marginally over the past one year, and the lifts don’t work. I can “Under the policy changes managing,” the official said. Railway officials still felt that it make do with the waiting time of brought about in 2017, it was de - The official added that the Rail - was not enough. Shutters down: More than 20 commercial units at Chitadripet station close to Anna 10 minutes during rush hour, but cided which station gets what. ways takes all complaints into ac - “We are not breaking even right Salai have remained closed, according to daily MRTS commuters | ABHINAV CHAKRABORTY everything else has to improve,” That is why you see facilities like count while evaluating the now. Running even one extra train said Saumrit Behera (24), another food plazas or certain kinds of performance of private contrac - costs money. So, with the number office-goer who commutes bet - stalls in only some stations,” he tors, who maintain such facilities. (of passengers) we have currently, ween to Chintadri - said. While the frequency between it makes no sense to run more ser - pet daily. However, he agreed that main - two trains during rush hour re - vices,” the Railway official said. No income from empty shops at MRTS stations ABHINAV CHAKRABORTY raising fares is concerned. So, w ple travelling who would drive have to depend on non-fare reve - their business,” the official said. On the one end of nue, which we collect through fa - A few commuters seconded station which faces the , cilities such as parking, ATMs, the that. Thiruvanmiyur resident a total of 22 commercial units stalls that you see at MRTS sta - Saumrik Behera (24), who com - have their shutters drawn down. tions,” a Railway official said. mutes daily to his office on Anna S.S. Rajan (60), who commutes “The number of stalls allocated Salai, said, “They may open shops to his workplace in Velachery to any station is decided by the and places to eat in the station every day by taking the Mass Commercial Branch in line with complexes but I doubt how many Rapid Transit System (MRTS) line the policy,” the official added. of them would work as time goes from here, does not remember a Daily commuters on the MRTS by.” time when they ever opened. want refreshment centres at most Another Railway official said “The shutters have always been MRTS stations. that the Railways had introduced down as these shops never opened. Back in February 2009, The “New and Innovative Ideas Nothing is available here, which Times of India had reported that Scheme”, under which marketing needs to change,” he said. Chinta - IRCTC had plans to set up food agencies and businesses were dripet station is just one of 16 sta - stalls at 12 MRTS stations. But the being invited to present ideas for tions on the MRTS which have first food plaza opened at Thiru - commercializing space in both di - large swathes of commercial space vanmiyur station only in early gital and non-digital mediums. that remain un-utilised. 2018. “We are setting up meetings Railway officials said that as Apart from Thiruvanmiyur, with marketing agencies with and when requirement for com - food stalls have been opened only whom we have had dealings in the mercialization was identified, at Thirumayilai station till date.“In past. Also, we are receiving pro - While Thiruvanmiyur railway station has had a food plaza space was let out. However, Rail - the past, we have invited tenders posals for starting massage chairs, way officials have acknowledged for opening stalls in other MRTS sports stores and BMI (Body Mass since April 2018 other important stations like Chintradri - that commercialisation could bring stations as well. But no party ex - Index) machines, which will help pet (top right) and Thiruvellikeni (left) are yet to see its in extra revenue. pressed interest. Maybe because boost our non-fare revenue figu - commercial spaces being let out. ABHINAV CHAKRABORTY “There are constraints as far as they felt there weren’t enough peo - res,” the official said. What transport do Chennaites prefer? ANMOL ARORA his ticket to cover a distance of “For frequent travelling, they Trains are the best mode of trans - approximately 14 km. The bus was can give some pass. I am using port when it comes to the cost of filled to an almost three-fourth of their card but it does not help. They travel while also helping you its capacity on the route. should give discounts to frequent avoid Chennai traffic, said Muthu is making waves users,” he said. Kumar, who travels by Chennai as a favourable transit system in the He was waiting for a metro line Mass Raid Transit System city. Though limited in its route, the to be built till Ayanavaran as it (MRTS) trains. number of passengers has been would make his life much easier, he A Bank Probationary Officer increasing over time. added. For now, he took a bus from Thiruvanmiyur, Kumar was Ganeshan (59) said that he which he did not like that much. sitting inside an almost empty would prefer metro any day, even In response to the complaints coach of the train starting from when it was not as cheap as buses about the bus travel, an official Chennai Beach and bound for or trains. Lesser crowd was one from the EDP Department Velachery here on Tuesday. reason why he travelled by metro (responsible for designing systems The platform at 5 p.m. had a Delay in traffic signals creates bunching of buses outside whenever he had to take public and programmes) of Metropolitan deserted look, which would change Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital ANMOL ARORA transport. Transport Corporation (MTC) said during the rush hours of the “Crowd is less, it is neat unlike that due to congestion on the roads, evening. plying to have a reach though, he said. buses and trains,” said Sujatha, a the buses ran late. Trains come at a frequency of 10 better frequency and timing, the Natarajan said “Buses are more professional who took metro to go There is also the issue of minutes until 10 a.m., and then 15 situation is different when people crowded and I have to stand on to her workplace, said. The waiting bunching of buses, wherein three or minutes until 12 noon and 20 travelled to localities in North steps to travel. So, I prefer trains.” time had come down to only three more buses going to the same area minutes in the afternoon on this Chennai like Mathur, , David Vinodraj, who works as a to four minutes only, she added. end up coming together, because of route, he added. He paid Rs. 5 for a , and . security guard at Thiruvanmiyur, In the metro starting from the delays caused by traffic signals. ticket. Trains do not go everywhere. on the other hand said that he and going towards MTC is developing a mobile “Trains are the most comfortable Therefore, they have to take share preferred buses as it was the Airport, there were about 20 application, which would inform Wait continues: An instruction at the Uthandi Toll Plaza and they reach on time as well,” autos, which do not charge more cheapest mode for him. He did not passengers in the early evening. the commuters about the estimated ABHIMANYU HAZARIKA said Natarajan, a software than Rs. 25 to reach the destination. make enough to travel by metro, he The metro fare starts as low as Rs. time of arrival (ETA) of buses at professional, said as he stood up at In their absence, they have to rely said. 10 and goes as high as Rs. 70. the bus stops. the Beach station to catch the train on private autos to go to Ernavoor, “The bus comes rather late, Hyder, another passenger, said “This would counter the to . which charge Rs. 200, he added. sometimes with a half an hour that he found metros the most influence of Uber and Ola. If the Fastags take the However, the trains are not As for the buses, it is a no-no for delay. But there is no other option,” comfortable out of the three modes bus is delayed, people would be convenient for everyone in Kumar, as traffic often became an he said. He was travelling to of transport. It is a little bit informed on the app[lication] and Chennai. impediment to comfortable travel Broadway to catch another bus to expensive according to him: “It you can then switch your mode of Kumar said, while the trains for him. The buses have a wider Washermanpet. He paid Rs. 12 for pinches the pocket.” transport,” he said. slow lane for now ABHIMANYU HAZARIKA February,” said Sudar M (32), supervisor of the plaza. Long queues at toll plazas on the The January 15 deadline to East Coast Road (ECR) and the Old integrate the tags and its quick Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) will implementation on national Dark times for streets, lights are faulty continue for the time being as the highways has meant applications ANEESA PA light due to the trees. immediately after receiving process of getting Fastags will take for it increasing. “The street light is only for the complaints either online or through at least a month longer. C N Raja, 41, who was visiting Many parts of the city need more for the name; the light is obstructed phone or any other manner. He The Tamil Nadu Road the office of the Uthandi toll plaza streetlights with proper by shadows,” said P. Durai (52), added that the area required less Development Corporation and the with documents to apply for a maintenance. Some streetlights are who runs a tailoring shop on the maintenance. Highways Department, had in Fastag, was told by the supervisor either not working properly or are pavement of Avvai Shanmugam As much as 98 per cent of the November announced plans to that the process is online. “I travel hidden by trees. Some interior lanes Salai. He said that no measures city is covered with streetlights and introduce the radio frequency around the state quite often so I lack lights in many parts. have been taken even despite are in proper condition, said identification tags on the OMR and need the tag for my car. I am Women and children can’t go out complaints to the lineman to cut the Balamurali, Divisional Electrical ECR in line with the Centre’s unaware of how to do it online,” during the night because of the lack branches. Engineer at Greater Chennai launching it on the national Raja said. of streetlight in some lanes of Residents at Shastri Nagar and Corporation. Most of the sodium highways. It was decided that the The scene is similar at the residential area at Nadukupam, Besant Nagar also complained vapor lamps have been replaced tags would be introduced on the toll plaza on the OMR says Prameela C (42), a resident. about trees not being trimmed .“We with LEDs. lanes currently dedicated for where the Manager, Kumaresan, The area lacks streetlights in the have two employees in each He said that LEDs of 40 watts, residents. said, “We will definitely implement interior lanes which make walking division with vehicles to attend to 90 watts, and 150 watts are being Each of the six lanes at the fastags, even if not on all 12 lanes. difficult during nights. The lights in complaints immediately and three used for narrow lanes, interior Uthandi toll plaza on the ECR uses Presently only cash is used and the area facing main road are not days in a week are spent streets, and main roads respectively cash payments for private vehicles. installing the systems for the tags functioning properly. On and off: Street lights at Nadukupam (left) and Avvai exclusively for pruning trees if with specific heights and with a The line for even public buses was will take another month as we have Three adjacent mast lights near necessary,”said Anandaramakrishnan uniform distance of 25 metres a long one that led to a halt of 15 not received them yet.” ANEESA PA the main road have not been Shanmugam Salai (right) S, Junior Engineer at the Electrical between lamp posts across the city. minutes. “Although we have Here the queues for private working for more than one year, that there are many more lights in “The lineman comes often, but Department of Corporation Zone “Approximately 15,000 already processed it [installing vehicles was long but the dedicated complained S Jayapalan(74) several parts of the area which he hasn’t done anything,” he 13 which include Besant Nagar. He streetlights will be installed this Fastag], we do not see it being lanes for public vehicles proceeded another resident of the area. He said needs to be replaced or repaired. said.Another issue is the lack of said that issues will be solved year,” he said. introduced earlier than the end of at a fast pace. Edition 1 page 3_Layout 1 1/24/2020 4:22 PM Page 1

CHENNAI January 24, 2020 THE WORD CITYSCAPE 3

Footpath construction getting delayed Roadside eateries Traffic jams on fear eviction GN Chetty Road ANSHUL GUPTA Corporation, said that since all of the shops are unauthorized, the ANSHUL GUPTA government starts many works but The Greater Chennai Corporation stall owners and those who run doesn’t complete any of those in (GCC) has told the small tea stall them, have been asked time and The delay in the construction of a time. owners and other eateries that again to remove their stalls. pedestrian footpath on both the “Pongal holidays were for just a they will be removed, once the However, he added that the shop sides of the Gopathi Narayanswami week, today is a working day but construction of the footpath on owners will go for one week or (GN) Chetty Road at T Nagar is not even one worker is around. both the sides of the Gopathi so but they will, then, come back leading to traffic jams and Irregularity from workers and Narayanaswami (GN) Chetty again at the same place. hindering the movement of people. carelessness of Corporation Road at T Nagar is completed. “They also block the way for The Greater Chennai Corporation officials have led to this delay,” Construction material is scattered pedestrians and obstruct parking started the work on these footpaths Jose said. on the work-in-progress new of vehicles on the road,” added in early November last year, to “They have kept the construction footpaths on both the sides of the the officer. beautify the GN Chetty Road, one material, but that also is not taken GN Chetty Road. Sarvanan (46), one of the of the busiest at T Nagar. care of. We are the ones who are The owners of tea stalls and owners of a small shop selling The work was expected to be paying taxes, but then we are the eateries are trying to find the idlis, vadas and dosas, said that completed within one month on only who have to bear the space between the footpath and the shops are unlicensed but they whole stretch of the road, according inconvenience too,” added Jose. the main road, to set up their don’t have any other option but to to a resident on the Giri Road, He even suggested that the shops. continue this. which has one of its entrances from workers should work between 9 pm Mohideen Abdul Kader (35), “Who will give permission or GN Chetty road. and 7 am as during daytime the who manages a tea shop, says license to us? We don’t have But, the Zonal Officer of road was congested with that the owner of this stall has funds or other options but to Zone of Chennai commuters and people working been running it for more than 40 remain in this business only,” Corporation, said that the delay is here. years now. Sarvanan questioned. due to the absence of workers. On the other hand, V.S. Shankar “They didn’t have problem all The idli shop owner expressed “When they are asked to come, (53), a resident, had contrasting these years, but now since they his sorrow saying, “ Even, if we they ask for extra wages, which views. According to him, people are doing something for the ask for permission or permanent can’t be provided before are not satisfied, even if the public and for beautification of solution, if any, to continue are completion of work as they may government is doing something for the road, they see us an obstacle,” business here, they ask for Clockwise: Tea-stall managed by Mohideen run away,” he added. their benefit. added Mohideen. money.” They are left helpless Abdul Kader; Construction material spread The officer’s point was amplified “Official works do take time, it’s The Zonal Officer of because of the current situation all around; eateries set-up amidst WIP road by Rojin Jose (35), who works here not unnatural. People have to have Kodambakkam Zone of Chennai hoping for a change. ANSHUL GUPTA in this area. He said that the patience, he added.

Livelihood, education affected Duty-free alcohol limit at Sathyavani Mutthu Nagar won’t hit consumers ABHIMANYU HAZARIKA has reported City-based distilleries say that ABHIJIT PAUL that duty-free alcohol accounts for the change in policy, if it comes Frequent travelers to foreign desti - 50 per centof airport sales at arrival through, may come as a relief for The evacuation and relocation of nations say that any reduction in terminals. However the Commerce distilleries engaged in ‘backward the residents of the Sathyavani the number of liquor bottles availa - Ministry’s committee has said the integration’ of spirits. Muthu Nagar along the Cooum ble for purchase at duty free shops intention behind the planned limi - “In recent years, some of our banks has resumed now. in airports will not impact their pur - tation is not to reduce this figure. factories had closed down. If the The process meant for chasing patterns. “For its segment of customers, Centre announces the move to limit “ecological restoration” of the river The Union Commerce Minis - high-end alcohol is a giffen good duty free alcohol purchase in the was started last December. try’s pre-budget consultation com - (whose demand does not reduce budget, our competition from high As many as 2263 families who mittee has proposed that the with price hike). People will not ends brands abroad will reduce to lived on the Cooum banks adjacent number of bottles that a passenger shy away from buying that extra an extent as companies we do do - to Park Town Railway Station for can buy be reduced to one from two bottle from wherever it isthe avai - mestic manufacturing for, antici - some 40 years have been allotted at present. lable” said Sanchita Dutta, a pro - pate a slight spike in demand,” said tenements at , which “If anything, it will just make fessor of Economics at Delhi Mrs. K. Kavitaraj, 43, an employee is 37 km away, by the Tamil Nadu the consumption of high-end University. of Empee Distilleries. Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB). brands of scotch/whiskey a little She added that the com - The eviction coming weeks less in the country. We might have pany focuses on backward in - before the school exams has less of those of those now compa - tegration – the processes affected some 1500 students, red to earlier, said Anand Sundar, through which companies according to a report by The New 50, a non-resident Indian residing purchase and/or internally Indian Express. Sathyavani Muthu in Dubai, who visits the city during produce inputs they may Nagar people wanted to get A bulldozer ramming down the houses at Sathyavani Muthu Nagar | ABHIJIT PAUL holidays. need. They will be in a posi - relocated only after final Muthusubramanian B., 52, a bu - tion to take advantage of the examination in May. said Bismil (38), who runs a The PWD official also claimed open defecation made life terrible sinessman who travels abroad For its segment of customers, high- move advocated by the Com - “The government made us chicken shop near this area. that Rs. 5000 was given to each here. often, said the measure will benefit end alcohol is a giffen good. People merce Ministry’s pre-budget believe that there will be no trouble Paranthamaan, an assistant family for their initial settlement. Moreover, during the monsoon, the elite TASMAC shops that sell will not shy away from buying that consultation committee. and bus services will be provided engineer of PWD, said “The Coaching classes are being the river overflowed into the foreign liquor. “Many a times, one extra bottle from wherever it is the Distilleries supply inputs to the students who mostly read in Government had started the project provided by the TNSCB. colony. got to see international duty-free- available. to local brands for their alco - corporation school in this locality. for the restoration of the Cooum. Clara (42), whose house yet to However, many people here only brands at the international ar - hol manufacturing, the de - They also said that the students of We are just executing the plan. be demolished, believes that the work in the neighborhood and say rival terminals. I guess that will -Sanchita Dutta, Professor of mand for high end brands of primary schools will be admitted Only 200 families are left here for new settlement will offer better the commute from Perumbakkam stop now and we will not get to Economics, Delhi University which may increase if the near the tenements, but the issue relocation and by next ten days, the living condition as the unhygienic will be expensive and time- taste new releases as quickly until committee’s recommendation has not been resolved completely,” rest of the work will be done,” said. surroundings, lack of toilets and consuming. the TASMACs get it.” comes through. Emergency contraceptives hard to find in city Cough syrup sale AMRUTHA KOSURU thorough check on the given prescription despite their age. They are purchase of medicines by only given prescription after being put under still unrestricted There is an unofficial ban on the sale small medical shops, ac - psychiatric analysis for at least 24 hours, said ABHIRUPA KUNDU ned from sale and not even prescri - of emergency/oral contraceptive pills cording to Kannan. a general physician on point of anonymity. bed by the doctors. (OCP) since 2006 and drug inspectors “They are strictly Even in cases of assault, marital rape and do - Cough syrups are still being sold Corex containing chlophenira - force pharmacies not to have stock in against --- stocking emer - mestic abuse, it is extremely difficult to ob - over the counter even after the ban mine and codiene is one of the 344 the shops, according to several medi - gency pills. If we do, we tain OCPs. on certain codeine based cough sy - drug combination that the Ministry cal shops here. will fall into trouble”, he Another doctor, Nimalan Sivasankar, said rups was imposed in 2016 by the had banned. It can cause dehydra - However, K.Sivabalan, Director of claims. that the main reason behind the unofficial ban Union Ministry of Health and Fa - tion, drowsiness and is unsuitable Drugs Control, said that there is no ban In an unlikely case of is because the society views consuming con - mily Welfare. for diabetic patients because of its imposed on the pills and that OCPs the pills being sold, Kan - traceptive itself as promiscuous behavior. Syrups like Benadryl, which high sugar content. shall be provided with a doctor’s pres - nan said that a copy of the “High dosage of contraceptives is what is contains addictive contents, are Pharmeasy.in, an online medi - cription. In other states, this is not the patient’s prescription dangerous. But normal doses do not have any sold by most of the pharmacies in cine store sells Benydryl, Chericof case. OCPs are provided with or wit - should be submitted to side-effects contrary to popular belief,” he the city without a prescription said and Honitus without a prescription. hout a prescription as it is a common the Drugs Control depart - said. “Awareness regarding this should be Dr. R. Prakash, a consultant physi - The price is ranged between Rs 55 drug. ment. He claims this to be caused in order to benefit those who really cian at Noble Super Speciality Cli - to Rs 160. “Tamil Nadu has a very strong law a tedious process and so need contraceptives.” nic in Thiruvanmiyur. Dr. Prakash, said that many keep in terms of drugs and medicines unlike he prefers not to deal with Pharmacists at Adyar Medical using their old prescriptions to buy other law-less states”, Mr.Sivabalan contraceptives. Store, Medplus Pharmacy and Ge - such medicines, and most stores do said when asked why it is compul - Common OCPs like i-pill and Levonorgestrol are difficult According to a gynae - neral store, Apollo Pharmacy, not verify the date mentioned. sory to provide prescription here. to find in the city’s pharmacies| THE BETTER INDIA cologist based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu has a very strong law in Shobhika Pharmacy confirmed that “Though these cough syrups are It is next to impossible to find excessive usage of contra - they sold Benadryl and Chericof usually not fatal but if taken in contraceptive pills in the city. ceptive pills can lead to terms of drugs and medicines without prescription to customers large proportions, they can cause Major pharmacies like Apollo and Med According to Hari Kannan, owner of a me - unexpected abortions in the future. Although unlike who came with complains of cold. short term memory loss,” he said. Plus don’t have OCP supply. “Chennai is the dical shop in , even though there is no there is no conclusive study done affect of other law-less states and hence Some cough syrups such as As - “Anyone who complains of only city where common contraceptives like stock, if one can provide a prescription then OCPs in the long run, unregulated use can coril, Dilosyn and Prodex need cough and cold can go to a shop i-pill is not available”, said K.Aarti, a phar - he claims he can give them the medicine in a lead to death. “This is why we stress on ha - presciription for OCPs is necessary. prescription, said R. Mohan, phar - and buy it. Long term use of such macist in MedPlus. While other medical day or two. He has never stocked i-pills due ving prescriptions,” she said. Most hospitals -K.Sivabalan, Director of Drugs macist at Apollo in Thiruvanmiyur. syrups can cause dryness in the shops claim to have to no stock, some shops to the fear of drug inspectors and controllers. that have medical shops have stock of OCPs, Control He added that syrups like Corex throat and mouth and also dizzi - demand a prescription. The Drugs Control department keeps a she said. Unmarried women are mostly not and Phensedyl are completely ban - ness,” he added. Edition 1 Page 4_Layout 1 1/27/2020 3:05 PM Page 1

THE WORD CHENNAI January 24, 2020 4 CITYSCAPE All you need to Differently-abled get unique IDs know about ANMOL ARORA here,” she added. She hoped that ficer, these people would be inti - she might get a monthly support of mated and the card sent to them, he A card identifying people with di - Rs. 1000 after she got her UDID explained. sabilities would make it easier for card. “It would prevent duplication in the Rajini row them to access services and bene - The issuing of UDID cards cases of people who had more than THE WORD BUREAU heries and Personnel and Adminis - fits meant for such people, said S. began in 15 states in 2017 on a pilot one disability card,” he said. It Actor Rajinikanth’s remarks on trative Reforms in the incumbent Mohan (43) who was among many basis. This project aims to create a would help specify the exact per - how the media covered Dravidar AIADMK government, asked the who came to the District Collec - nationwide database for People centage of disability too, he added. Kazhagam founder ‘Periyar’ E.V. actor to apologise for his statement. tor’s Office for a spec ial camp to with Disabilities (PwDs). Seven di - As some of the crowd dwindled Ramaswamy’s 1971 rally have ge - Congress MP Karti Chidambaram apply for a Unique Disability Iden - sabilities are covered under the pro - over time, some still seemed to be nerated controversy. Despite criti - urged the actor to focus on more tity (UDID) card here on Tuesday. ject right now and the number waiting after two hours. cism from Dravidian political pressing issues.The Dravidar Vi - Sitting at one corner in the busy would be increased in the future. V. Balarajan, who came to get re - parties, the actor has refused to duthulai Kazhagam has sought an hall, near the desks where four R. Balaji, District Differently gistration done for his daughter, apologise. unconditional apology saying that women volunteers collected the do - Abled Welfare Coordinator, said had to go back since he did not What did Rajinikanth say? Rajinikanth uttered a "blatant lie cuments and completed the regis - that through this camp, the Com - have a certificate from a designated Speaking on the 50th anniversary that images of Lord Ram and Sita tration, he said that it was a difficult misionerate of the Welfare of the Medical Officer. celebrations of Thuglak magazine, were taken nude”. thing to get any identity card made Differently Abled was trying to He had come to know about the Rajinikanth praised the magazine How did other media outlets re - because of the lengthy and formal reach out to people who did not camp from a local Tamil newspa - and its editor at the port it then? process. have access to internet cafes, e- per, Dina Malar. time, Cho Ramas - report Mohan has got other benefits Seva and common service centres. Prema, who could not complete wamy, for publis - titled Demonstra - given by the government like Rail - Everything was being carried out the registration, said that she would hing a report on how tion against obs - ways Pass and Bus Pass, along with with utmost care without any was - have to go to another hospital for a nude images of Lord cene tableaux on a registration recently for a three- tage of time, he said. ‘white card’ from the doctor, as her Ram and Sita were January 25, 1971, wheeler vehicle. They were going to different prior certificate from Kancheepu - displayed during a read: “The ta - “I am an Orthopaedics case with Participants registering for the UDID cards | ANMOL ARORA Taluk offices of the district on spe - ram district was not valid here. She procession in Salem bleaux (at the pro - EDS [Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome],” cific dates where their team and vo - had received her Disability certifi - in 1971. The proces - cession) included he said. He walked around with a hopaedic doctor present there, a A survivor of a fire accident that lunteers would collect and verify cate earlier from Chengalpattu Me - sion was part of the obscene pictures stick and so it was still easier for wheelchair was produced for her led to disability in both her hands, identity cards such as Aadhar or dical College Hospital. Superstition Eradi - of the birth of him to come for such camps. For use. Pranci Prema (52), said that she had Voter ID, all the pages of Disability Ashwini, a staff nurse at a Myla - cation Conference Lord Muruga, pe - many others, it was not the case. Some others did not get the be - gone to many camps previously to card/certificate, and a recent photo - pore hospital, was volunteering organized by the nance of sages and Moving around with the support nefit of wheelchairs and they had to get some support but nothing came graph of PwDs for their registra - here to help the applicants. She was Dravida Kazhagam. Mohini Avatara, a 10-foot long of her hands, Rani (20) said that she move around the room, navigating out of it. tion, he added. enclosing the documents with the Rajinikanth said, “No other pu - image of Lord Rama was carried on was fine without a wheelchair. Ho - through chairs and other people, “I applied for many but received Once the card was issued and ge - form and verifying if they had eve - blication published anything about a vehicle and dozens of people kept wever, on the insistence of the Ort - with the support of their hands. no benefits. That is why I came nerated by the District Medical Of - rything that was required, she said. the rally, but Cho printed it on the beating it with chappals”. The arti - front page of the magazine and cle also mentioned how the wooden condemned it vehemently.” image of Lord Ram was set on fire He also criticized the then Karu - as the procession concluded. Religion rules nanidhi-led Dravida Munnetra Outlook’s report in 2017, which Kazhagam (DMK) government, Rajinikanth quoted to support his City E-toilets are not working the roost at saying it had tried to seize Thuglak statement, had spoken of Karuna - copies as it did not want anyone to nidhi’s clampdown of news cove - ABHIRUPA KUNDU Fair read about the incident. rage of the rally. It said, “Even as How have the parties reacted? the police came to the Ananda Vi - Self-cleaning and automated E-toi - ANJALY RAJ Parties, both big and small, have katan press (where Thuglak was lets in the city are not in working responded to the remarks. DMK printed) to seize the copies, bundles conditions as they lack proper The 43rd Chennai Book Fair ended president MK Stalin said the actor of the fortnightly were flung over maintenance. on Tuesday with stall owners re - and aspiring politician must think the compound wall and found their The toilets have not been main - porting an increase in the number before speaking on such matters. way to the market, where they were tained by the Greater Chennai Cor - of visitors and in the sale of . D Jayakumar, Minister for Fis - sold at a premium.” poration due to lack of water "People come to buy some parti - supply and sewage related pro - cular book," said Prabhu Raj, blems, said Mohammad Ansari, owner of Pustak Mela stall. “Only a Regional Head of marketing at the few come to visit the stalls and buy Eram Scientific Solutions Pvt. Li - random books.” Prabhu, who Lack of funds hits mited, which supplied the equip - stocks books in Tamil, English and ment for the E-toilets. Hindi said he has managed to sell Ansari said that the company almost 1000 books per day during Kural art gallery was responsible for maintaining the the Pongal holidays. toilets upto six months after the ins - The footfall in the fair increased tallation during 2017. These are pu - by 20 percent this year compared to AMRUTHA KOSURU “Very few are aware of the exis - blic toilets intended to stop open last year, according to The New In - tence of Thirukkural. It is only re - defecation; unlike other toilets dian Express. The Tamil Nadu Thirukkural Art membered and recited on these have sensor-based technology Ravi Verma, who said he earned Gallery began functioning in 2013 Thiruvalluvar Day on 16 January” to initiate opening of the toilet almost Rs 50,000 a day at his stall, but has succeeded in converting said Janaki, “Now even that is doors. said Hindu "religious books" in only 150 couplets out of 1330 cou - being saffronised and made a joke They have stainless steel com - Tamil sold the most apart from plets into paintings because of lack of” mode and pre-flush and post-flush “motivational,self-help and chil - of funds, according to an official. Owing to lack to funds from the systems through which the toilets dren’s books”. However, the state government state government, the International are kept clean and do not need any “Comparatively Tamil books has sanctioned funds for a works - Institute of Tamil Studies last con - kind of manual cleaning. sold the most ,” said Prabhu Raj. hop to be held in first week of ducted a workshop on Thirukkural “The toilets initiate a post-use Ravi has been setting up his stall, March. in March, 2018. platform cleaning after every 5 uses Book World, at the Chennai Book “The Thiruvalluvar controversy In the workshop, the couplets are by which the floor and the pod is fair since the last 10 years and he might actually help our upcoming explained in detail to several fine kept clean,” said A. Malarvizhi, As - has made the highest of his sales workshop. In a way it has promo - arts students and faculty after sistant Executive Engineer at the this year. Ravi, another stall-owner ted Thirukkural as several people which each individual is assigned Greater Chennai Corporation. from Delhi said he managed to sell are now keen to learn about Thirru - one couplet to paint. There are 221 E-toilets under the E-toilets in Egmore remain unused as sensors have stopped working. | ABHIRUPA KUNDU books worth Rs 50,000. valluvar and Thirukkural”, said Dr. She also added that only 25 ar - Corporation in 15 zones. “On weekdays when crowd was T. Janaki, a faculty at International tists attended the last workshop. At the Pudupet bus stand, two of ning; as a result, many people have ted opposite the toilet units on Gu - people to drink at night and is to - comparatively low, the sales tou - Institute of Tamil Studies. Initially almost 70 artists had atten - these self-sustaining toilets lay in started misusing them,” said auto runanak Road, Velachery said that tally littered with alcohol bottles,” ched just Rs 10,000.” Many people have also visited ded the workshop. unusable conditions with no water rickshaw driver Kamala Hasan. the toilets were serviced and main - he added. Komal, another owner, said she the incomplete art gallery since the Several research scholars who supply. The sensors have stopped E-toilets at Lakshmipuram, Ve - tained till 2018, a year after their Earlier the toilet doors opened never witnessed such an overwhel - controversy and the institute is ex - preach the writings of Thiruvallu - working and the doors are kept lachery and lie in similar installment, after which the corpo - only when water was available and ming crowd in the 12 years of her pecting more footfalls. var simply laugh at the saffronisa - open. These unclean toilets emit a conditions. ration stopped servicing them. He people had to insert two rupee setting up a stall at the book fair The controversy began on Thiru - tion of Thiruvalluvar by Venkiah stinking odor polluting the whole Though there are separate units said, “Earlier these toilets where coins in order to access the bath - until this year. valluvar Day this year when Ven - Naidu, Vice . stretch of the road that they are lo - for men and women, people don’t used by shopkeepers in this street rooms but the sensors have stopped There were also students who kaiah Naidu, Vice President of The primary idea behind turning cated in. follow the instructions. but their unhygienic conditions working now and people have bro - were attending the book fair for the India, tweeted a picture of Thiru - the couplets into paintings is to help “There is no water in these toi - K.D Mustafa, who runs his own have made them unusable now” ken the doors in order to get free first time to check on the hype that valluvar whose white robes had illiterate people understand the lets and they have stopped functio - store for sanitary equipment, loca - “It has only become a spot for access. attracted lots of visitors. been replaced with saffron. classical text.

ROAD SAFETY WEEK Second day marked with an awareness walkathon AATREYEE DHAR urging traffic rule violators on the way to wear helmets. Employees and owners of driving Hassan Basha, PA to the Joint institutes approved by the Transport Officer, listed events for government, vehicle sellers, the following five days covering all members of the Institute of Road aspects of road and vehicle safety Transport, Metropolitan Transport in the city. The department would Corporation, police drivers, be conducting camps for medical firemen and employees of Apollo check-up of drivers of school and Hospitals walked 5 kms from college buses as well as drivers of to Island Grounds government vehicles on the 3rd distributing pamphlets on road- day. The fourth day event is safety measures as part of the Road scheduled for awarness Safety Week celebrations in the programmes in schools and city. colleges by organising art and M.R. Vijayabhaskar, Transport speech competitions. Minister, praised the police for their The fifth and sixth day events are initiatives in minimizing accidents scheduled to create awareness owing to non-wearing of helmets about violations such as which accounts for the most overspeeding, overloading of number of accidents in the city. passengers and jumping red signal G.D. Ezhilarasi (45), who owns that can lead to suspension of their the Jayam Driving Institute, said, “ driving licences. Since I teach driving, I cannot stop The final day sponsored by feeling accountable for the deaths A 5 km walkathon from Chepauk to Island Grounds on the second day of the Chennai Road Safety Week | AATREYEE DHAR employees of Maruti and Tata owing to faults of drivers in the showrooms along with driving city. “ Also other people in a hurry break difficult to stick rules on congested owners of driver institutes talk out for cars or pedestrians on both technique to drive on slopes. school associations has been fixed As the theme for the walkathon rules by using one-way roads narrow roads. about the road-safety rules they sides reduces the occurrence of Hari (21), owner of the Maruti for creating public awareness of speaks about how change starts instead of going further and taking As students wait their learner’s teach their students. accidents, Raghuram (33), another Driving Institute, says both the ambulance services in the city to with youngsters, she blames the a U-turn. She stressed the need for licence in the common room in the While Ezhilarasi underlines how trainer, recalls the need for the driver and pillion riders wore attend to victims of road accidents youth for speeding on the roads. better roads as it will be otherwise RTO office at , defensive driving while watching students to be acquainted with the helmets during the walkathon, who are in need of critical care.