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Home , Chennai Book Fair, Grace Banu, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, VR Chennai

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Volume No 19 Issue No 1 February 01, 2019 LAB JOURNAL OF THE ASIAN COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM Metro work puts Homeless lack Park for the shops in a rut proper shelters differently abled Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Teachers call off strike Budget: No income tax after appeals, threats for earnings upto 5L AADITHYAN J P any appointment orders, he said. ANAND JC bank accounts in three separate much delayed ‘1 rank 1 pension’ Additionally, the teachers took care instalments every year. A sum of Rs scheme had been implemented by The week-long strike by of over 1,50,000 children who Individuals who earn up to Rs 5 75,000 crore will be allocated every the Modi Government and more Government school teachers was suffer from mental retardation, lakh have been exempted from year, starting April 2019. than Rs 35,000 crore had been called off on Wednesday following visual and hearing impairment, and paying income tax in the interim Goyal said the scheme would be disbursed, he said. the appeal of several politicians and were orthopedically challenged. budget proposal presented by implemented retrospectively, Goyal claimed that was reportedly after threats of “Even though the government Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in starting from December 1, 2018 constructing at least 27 km of roads suspension and loss of pay. provides all the equipment and the on February 1. and that Rs 20,000 crore has been every day. “We are the fastest The strike had been called by the funding we are the mediators who In what is seen as another sop in allocated for the current financial highway developers in the world,” Joint Action of Council of Tamil put them to use, and we are still the run-up to the General Elections year for this purpose. The first he said and added that Rs 19,000 Nadu Teachers Organisation and being paid only Rs 14,000 per expected in April-May, Goyal instalment will be disbursed before crore had been allocated to Pradhan Government Employees’ month,” he added. announced that interest income on the elections. Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Organisation in support of better Laxman, a teacher at a bank deposits of up to Rs 40,000 Pradhan Mantri Shram “We have restored the image of pay among other things. Government Higher Secondary wouldn’t be taxed. The limit was Maandhaan scheme was the country, India is back on track,” quoted School in , said “I see Rs 10,000 earlier. announced for workers who earn Goyal said, pointing to the inflation Meenakshisundaram, one of the my students as my own children, The standard deduction will be less than Rs 15,000 a month in the rate under NDA had fallen to 4.6 State coordinators of the and this is why I have chosen not to raised from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 unorganised sector. These workers per cent as compared to 10.1 association, as saying "Respecting go on strike as it will affect their for the salaried class. will get a pension of Rs 3,000 a recorded under the UPA regime. the sentiments of people and Teachers at a rally in Nandanam | AADITHYAN J P studies. Even though I have two The gratuity payment limit has month after they turn 60. BJP President Amit Shah said, having students' welfare in our children of my own, I did what I been increased to Rs 20 lakh from Goyal claimed that under the “The budget has met the hearts, we have decided to end the teachers have rejoined their posts, settle it after the exams get over,” thought was right for all of us.” Rs 10 lakh. BJP-led NDA regime direct tax expectations of farmers, labourers strike." with most of them returning on she added. Besides improved salaries, The assessment and verification had risen from Rs 6.38 and the middle class.” Media reports said the Friday. Many teachers were absent Selva Singh, a special educator teachers demanded benefits under of IT returns would be completed lakh crore in 2013-14 to almost Rs However, Congress leader Sashi Government had also threatened to from their posts but did not join the for the differently abled, said, “We the GPF (General Provident Fund) digitally in 24 hours, Goyal said. 12 lakh crore now. Goyal credited Tharoor questioned if PMKSN was appoint new teachers in place of protest fearing the repercussions.” went on strike as we have been instead of the current CPF Turning to the rural sector, Goyal the demonetization scheme for this good enough. “Rs 6,000 in income those on strike and that following “What they have done to the teaching for more than 20 years as (Contributory Provident Fund). announced the Pradhan Mantri rise. “Rs 1.3 lakh crore of support for farmers boils down to this warning many employees primary level teachers is even part of the Government “This would help as we wouldn’t Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKSN) undisclosed income came to the Rs 500 per month. Is that supposed returned to work. worse as they have reduced their Education Department.” have to keep losing a chunk of our for more than 12,000 small and system due to demonetization,” to enable them to live with the Renuka Lakshmi, a teacher at the salaries. Keeping the matter of the But, even after having a service salary every month and we’d get marginal farmers. Farmers with Goyal said. honour and dignity? The whole Boys Higher Secondary School in students in mind the court asked the record of more than two decades, assured pension just like it was land under two hectares will get Rs More than Rs 3 lakh crore has (budget) exercise has turned out to Nandanam said, “All of our teachers to set aside the issue and some teachers still had not received before,” Laxman added. 6,000 transferred directly into their been allocated for Defence. The be a damp squib,” he said. faces Taps dry, water sells in bottles E-toilets unkempt, water shortage ANSHITA BHATT Some 20 days ago, workers from a mobile Corp disagrees this summer phone company dug up Sarojini Street in AISHANI SAHA unused for months.” AKSHARA SRIVASTAVA to lay cables, and damaged the The e-toilet opposite the office of only water supply line. But residents claim E-toilets installed in front of one of Greater Chennai Corporation on Come summer 2019, Chennai will be facing a that they have not been receiving proper Chennai’s largest shopping malls, Main Road in Lakshmi severe water shortage. Rainfall wasn’t water supply for the past 20 years now. Phoenix Marketcity, are in poor Puram is in better condition. The satisfactory last year and the levels in the four Of the two water supply lines running in condition. sanitary napkin disposal machine reservoirs that feed Chennai are going down and the place, the Metro Water line has not According to the Eram Scientific works and the toilets are cleaner. are now well below their storage capacity. started functioning while the other line Solution company which makes e- Chandrasekhar Mahadeo (41), However, rainwater harvesting has helped to supplies water from the Palar river once a toilets, the door of an e-toilet opens who owns a pharmacy shop nearby some extent in saving groundwater in some week; but this is irregular and inadequate, only when a Re 1 coin is inserted. said, “Passersby sometimes use it areas, even though the water tables have gone say the residents. The lights switch on but more often it is down in many places. “We have to pay for our daily supply of automatically, saving used by drug addicts at Sekhar Raghavan, founder of the Rain Centre, water,” says Sabrimani (44), who has been power. But in these night to take drugs and said rainwater harvesting was not a complicated living in the area for the past five years. e-toilets the doors alcohol.” He said that engineering process but a simple mechanism for K. Rubiya, another resident says, “A were open all the E-toilets are used to the Corporation sent saving water. public tap near the next railway station, time with no take drugs and people to check the The mechanism included connecting the Chrompet, supplies water all round. But we electricity and the consume alcohol toilets once in two rooftop to underground recharge wells, an have to walk 20 minutes to get our buckets Water supply on Sarojini Street was disrupted after the road was dug machines where the - Chandrasekhar months, but they did underground tank, often called a sump, or an filled.” user has to put a coin “ not clean them. open well through pipes that are fitted with Those who cannot walk daily pay for the up to lay cables for a mobile phone company. | ANSHITA BHATT in, were broken. Mahadeo However, R. filters. water. Narayanan from the neighbouring Auto driver P. Devadas, Assistant Some residents in Gandhi Nagar have Pallavan Colony says, “One fellow fetches through our well,” says Tilakavati from abundant mineral water in shops but no Ramesh said, “The taps have run Executive Engineer of the Greater installed a basic water harvesting system in their water for us and charges Rs 10 per pail (18 Pallavan Colony. “At other times, we buy drinking water in homes,” exclaims out of water and the flush doesn’t Chennai Corporation, Velachery homes. litres) for labour. It is Rs 12 to take the pail water. Some buy can water. People have Narayanan. work. There is a stench all around said, “The three e-toilets that fall “We have a recharge well, and a water sump to the second floor.” been buying water for many years.” Silvia Varghese from Sarojini Street says the place because of the toilet.” The under our jurisdiction are underground, where all water from the rooftop is Anthony Pious from Sarojini Street pays The water shortage is acute from April to “We pay water tax regularly, but pay extra toilets which are programmed to maintained properly; once in a collected. The system works well and wasn’t too Rs 40 for his weekly fill. “People are July. “During these months, we have to call for a basic necessity. We’ve complained to clean the commode with a wash- week a corporation worker checks expensive. We spent only Rs 3500 on its supposed to get the Palar water through for lorry water every five days,” adds the Pallavaram Municipality several times, down after use by five people, was the toilet.” construction,” said Nagarajan, who lives on 3rd taps, but our taps run dry because people use Narayanan. A tanker load is shared by six but no one resolves the issue.” covered with faeces, plastic packets “E-toilets are better than normal Cross street, Gandhi Nagar. motorized pumps to suck up all the water,” families in the building. “The cost varies Paneerselvam, Assistant Director of and bottles. toilets because the maintenance is Sekhar said, “The government is not for the he says. from Rs 1,800 to 2,500 as per the demand.” Water Supply at Pallavaram Municipality, The e-toilets are also supposed to cheaper, and there is water supply people. They want to come in as messiah at the Narayanan has not installed motor. The problem is severe in Bharathi Nagar, says the problem will be resolved in two be equipped with machines for throughout the day,” he added. last minute. People should start taking matters Pointing at the unpacked box lying near a which is about a kilometer away from days. disposal of sanitary napkins; but When asked about the difficulty into their own hands and build proper harvesting wall in his house, he says, “I can be selfish Sarojini Street. “People have drums lined Darwin Thangamani, a resident of they were missing in one of the e- faced by a user who is not up to systems in their homes.” and flout the rules, but I respect the outside their houses and wait for tankers to Sarojini Street, says “Funds have been toilets. Zubin Das (27), one of the date with the modern technology he Inadequate water supply in localities all over sentiments of people.” supply them with water because they have released from the state government to the security guards of market city said, said, “The instructions to use the Chennai is becoming an issue as temperature Most houses have either a well or no other source,” says Narayanan. Pallavaram Municipality but money does “Nobody uses these toilets; they toilets are on the door in Tamil, continues to rise. borewell. “When the groundwater is “Amidst this scarcity, bottled water is not trickle down. We have filed several RTIs have to just use the ones in the Hindi and English. It is easy for Residents of T. Nagar erupted in protest and recharged during the monsoon, we get water sold here at Rs 30. How can there be but haven’t received a single response.” mall. These toilets have remained everyone to read.” refused to vote if Metro Water doesn’t supply water on time. Residents of Pallavaram also complained of improper water supply, due to which they had to travel around two km to fetch water. The Water Board (CMWB) Flowers bloom in banned plastic bottles at MMC was sourcing water from farmer wells in AINDRISHA MITRA with picking up and eateries with the campus had been utilised for building two to provide drinking water in Chennai, trash.” The bio-friendly vertical gardens while one garden had been made said a report in Dina Thanthi, a local newspaper ’s (MMC) Eco-club is students collected alternatives like inside the GH. in Chennai. battling pollution in a unique way - by building plastic in the area banana leaves, “It consumes less space and is a hassle-free When asked about the arrangements done for vertical gardens with used plastic bottles. and processed it stainless steel and method which also beautifies the campus,” said water supply, CMWB officials refused to These bottles were filled with soil and manure to build their first thonnai (bowl made Ramamoorthy, referring to the wide varieties of comment. The official website of Chennai and saplings were planted in them. The bottles were vertical garden out of dry leaves). flowers and plant saplings used in the garden. Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board then coloured and were either attached to bamboo after 44 hours in With “Beat According to Dr. Subramanium, social media has (CMWSSB) paints a harrowing picture. and wooden structures or hung with ropes, said Dr. 37 days of plastic pollution” as been important for propagating MMC’s initiative. The Poondi tank which has a capacity of 3231 Sudharshini Subramaniam, Assistant Professor of rigorous effort. the theme in 2018, The activities of vertical gardening posted on million cubic feet (mcft) has just 204 mcft. Community Medicine. The vertical MMC also Facebook and WhatsApp garnered more support, Storage last year around the same time was 1310 Dr. Subramaniam who supervises students’ garden project organised particularly from the freshers as well as other mcft. activities in the eco-club said that in the first month, started last year competitions in private organisations which came forward to donate The tank with a capacity of 1081 the students collected about 10 kg of disposed on June 5, on the which students plant saplings, she said. mcft now has 48 mcft. At this time last year, plastic bottles, sachets and pouches. World were allotted a plot Prof. R. Jayanthi, Dean of MMC and RGGGH storage was 459 mcft. “The labels of several soft drinks bottles have Environment Reduce, Reuse, Recycle done right! | AINDRISHA M of land and asked to said the Eco-club’s activities would be expanded by The Red Hills tank has a capacity of 3300 been kept deliberately to address that something Day. Faculty, make good use of it. introducing projects on bio-degradable waste mcft and now has 748 mcft. Storage last year productive has been carved out of a plastic waste,” students and staff of MMC and Rajiv Gandhi The idea of vertical gardening sprung from the managemen to raise awareness and engage students during this time was 1396 mcft. said Dr. Subramanium. Government General Hospital (RGGGH) event and was finally implemented from August to in more environment-related activities. “In times of The Chembarambakkam tank has a capacity Formed in 2016 with the motto of keeping the participated in a rally in the hospital premises with December. climate change, these measures are imperative to of 7612 mcft but now has only 1000 mcft. Last college campus litter-free, MMC’s Eco-Club came the message of banning plastic. The first step was Ramamoorthy, a pre-final year student and the ensure that our hospitals are converted into 100 per year at this time, the storage was 3165 mcft. up with an initiative called “Plogging – Jogging taken by replacing the plastic items used in canteens Secretary of MMC Eco-club said that the walls in cent pollution-free zones,” she said. 1 Page 2_Layout 1 2/5/2019 9:53 AM Page 1

THE WORD CHENNAI February 1, 2019 2 CITYSCAPE CHENNAI GETTING USED TO PLASTIC BAN People, shops finding alternatives Banners live on ANAND J C cost Rs. 2 a plastic items in Adyar said AISHWARYAA.R Chennai fair in Y.M.C.A, plate making business had slowed down. only one stall had fabric People in Chennai are getting used the available “Alternative choices aren’t cheap. Plastic banners and hoardings partitions and most of the others to the ban on single-use plastics alternatives Mostly people buy in bulk so the continue to be used in Tamil were made of plastic. imposed by the Tamil Nadu State costlier. cost becomes even higher.” Nadu which has banned “single- Madhusudan Reddy, Deputy Government from January 1, 2019. But However, plastic traders in the use” plastic material. Commissioner for Health, The government banned items customers state do not agree with the ban and Around 45 kg of plastic waste Greater Chennai Corporation, like plastic cups, plastic sheets, aren’t are in no mood to take it lying is disposed from the Chennai said “The thin plastic items such plastic flags, plastic plates and protesting. down. “There are more than one Trade Centre at as polythene bags are shredded other plastic items which are of “I haven’t lakh people employed in the after every event. and reused in the corporation ‘use and throw’ nature. faced any plastic industry in the city itself. The disposal work is dump yards such as Kodungaoyur People and shops are finding problems at all. The condition is very bad,” said outsourced to a private company and Koyembedu. The other hard alternatives to carry their The customers Ibrahim, a member of the All India which clears the exhibit area and plastics are sent to cement purchases and other things. are not averse Plastic Manufacturers’ collect all the banners, pamphlets, factories to be burnt as fuels.” Many supermarkets in the city to buying eco- Association. posters and catalogues. The waste “Segregation done at the are offering cloth bags to their friendly “Our colleagues at TAPMA is then allegedly dumped in the source level would be ideal, but customers. “Customers normally products. (Tamil Nadu Plastic nearby Corporation bin or dump since that is not implemented 100 paid three or six rupees for a Business has, Manufacturers’ Association) are yard. per cent, it is done by rag pickers plastic bag to carry their purchases. of course, currently at the High Court looking M. Prakash, marketing head at and scrap collectors.” Because of the ban, we are offering slowed down after the issue.” the said Veeramani (48) is a ragpicker cloth bags, for Rs. 15. Many this month, but A similar ban had been imposed “We have no idea where the who collects plastic and metal people buy the cloth bag but I see I believe in the in 2002 by the then Jayalalithaa waste goes, never mind what waste from Kathipara to a lot of customers bringing their | ASHMITA MUKHERJEE long run it is a Government but was overturned happens to it. We want the venue Industrial estate. own bags,” said a supermarket good eventually after stiff opposition cleared and that is our main “There are hills of waste manager in Adyar. is good and bad. I appreciate this plastic and thermocol plates, cups decision.” said R. Ramalingam, from the TAPMA. priority.” accumulated near the major Supermarkets across Adyar and initiative,” said Sadipto Das, a and glasses. Instead, they are owner of a shop that sells Lawyers representing TAPMA The Government banned 14 industrial companies. Banners are charging Rs. student from IIT Madras said. offering plates and cups made of disposable party products. argued that under the Environment single-use plastic items including and pamphlets are also a major 15-20 for a cloth bag. “They (the government) do need to bagasse and areca leaves. “Hoteliers are a bit hesitant as the (Protection) Act of 1986, only the food packaging plastics. But part as they sell for a better price “I don’t mind paying the extra work on providing us with Bagasse plates cost Rs. 10 a extra prices tend to drive away the Centre had the powers to ban banners and posters were than regular plastic covers and money for the cloth bags, as a affordable alternatives,” he added. piece and areca leaves plates cost customers,” he added. plastic, not the State Government, excluded from the list. food packets at the scrap dealers’ citizen I need to be aware of what Shops have stopped selling Rs. 7 a piece. The banned varieties Another shopkeeper selling reported. Of the 802 stalls in the market.” Metro construction puts shops in a rut Bus terminus in ASHITHA JAYPRKASH Nagar or OMR,” Said Bunty, an against this issue. these brokers because they fleece auto dealer on GP Road. “First we get affected by this the customers. And because of this; Age-old businesses on General The government responded to never ending metro construction the reputation of the establishments an abysmal state Patters Road have taken a hit ever their grievances about parking work and now we have to face here is getting tarnished.” ASHMITA MUKHERJEE pregnant women struggle to reach since the four lane stretch of the First we get affected by this space by asking them to shift the these rowdies who take away our On how LIC staff was impacted the bus before it leaves. We are the - bustling was reduced to never ending metro shops until the metro work was business,” said Prashant, owner of by the 7-year-old construction Commuters express discontentment refore forced to stand in the sun at a one-way road in 2012 for complete. an over 60 year old auto dealer work, an LIC employee, Lokesh, with the poor state of maintenance the main gate so as not to miss the underground metro rail construction work and now we “I’ve been here since 1952, like establishment. has a contrasting story. of Bus Terminal ride.” construction. have to face these rowdies the other shops, where will we “The turf war sometimes gets “This is for the makkal [people]. and T. Nagar Bus Terminus. Both Aishwarya Dugar, a student and Offices on the affected stretch of who take away our business move to? We’ll have to generate physical,” he said, but they don’t A facility that will benefit all of us these depots according to passen - frequent commuter said, “The Anna Salai started using the rear new business all over again,” he prefer it. “It is such a big trouble for in the future,” he added that the gers have ill-kept or no toilets, in - ground is at a very low level espe - side located on GP Road adding to - PRASHANT said while explaining why shifting us because the police are with construction hadn’t adversely convenient drinking water facilities cially at the gate. So even with light the traffic. wasn’t a plausible option. them.” An association of dealers affected the company as customers and damaged roads. showers the area floods heavily. “Business is dull, it has been OWNER OF AN AUTO “Every time they say they have have filed a written complaint earlier had to take a U-turn at the The number of passengers has The toilets have no upkeep and are ever since they started this metro completed the work, they will against the brokers’ torment with intersection of Anna Salai anyway. risen significantly over the past few dirty. There is a drinking water tap construction work,” said DEALERSHIP come back two or three months the commissioner of police, But now they’d be diverted to GP years. Therefore currently accor - but it is far from the terminus. Men Chinnaswamy, owner of a modest businesses on the lane. later and restart, that itself has been Chennai. Road and take the building’s back ding to official records, T. Nagar urinate on the walled areas away tea shop. “Even if potential customers going on for 3 years now,” he A visibly annoyed Prashant said entrance. Bus Terminal conducts 1,900 trips from the parking space. The stench Most of the businesses are come to these shops, the cops in the added. “There are around 150 brokers According to a Hindu article every day, with 72 MTC buses is unbearable.” automobile spare parts shops and a vicinity will penalize them for Then there is the rising number here. They take the customers to a dated November 27, 2012, the commuting from the T. Nagar ter - An elderly resident who wished couple of restaurants. The auto parking even for 2 seconds. So the of brokers who take away their rowdy who then directs them to underground metro rail minus to rest of to remain anony - dealers say they have lost parking new customers would go to the already affected business, a group other shops. These shops are able construction was expected to be the city and over mous said, space which has affected many service providers in , T of auto dealers raises their voice to pay a very high commission to completed in 2015. a 100 incoming “About two buses from other weeks ago an locations. With aged man fainted the increased People here litter all the while waiting for number of com - time. No steps have been the bus. The muters, existing taken to maintain the MTC staff did soon a pedestrian plaza facilities are fai - not come to his AKSHARA SRIVASTAVA transportation he uses, he said, “I repairing the pavement first ling to serve the terminus rescue. Students come in my car, but park it half a instead of coming up with new public. - AISHWARYA DUGAR, STUDENT from a nearby AND FREQUENT COMMUTER Pondy Bazaar in T. Nagar, a kilometre away, as the street is plans. The plan will affect our A MTC staff school who were shopper’s paradise, will soon be always very crowded.” business, as people won’t come to who wished to travelling for an turned into a pedestrian plaza and Namya, another frequent visitor shop if they have to park their remain anonymous said, “T. Nagar excursion trip rushed him to a hos - Sir Thyagaraya Street, a 66 metre however felt that it was a difficult cars far away. They will prefer to Bus Terminus has no toilet. Near pital. The staff turned a blind eye to stretch, will be converted into a one and unnecessary plan to shop in other places, where cars the entrance, where there is a gar - the entire incident.” –way street. implement. “Cars are a comfortable are allowed.” bage dump, the wall next to it has Ravichandran K., superintendent Entry of all motor vehicles, way of travelling. We park them Construction work has left the been transformed into a makeshift of Industrial Relations’ division of barring buses will be restricted in here, and make multiple trips footpath broken and rocky toilet by people urinating onto it. MTC said, “The onus of mainte - the area once the plan is without carrying the heavy bags making it difficult for pedestrians People here litter all the time. No nance falls upon Greater Chennai implemented. The current 250 around. With the new plan, it will to walk freely. steps have been taken to maintain Corporation. We are fully control - parking slots on the main street will become difficult to shop, as we will Rajiv, a trinket seller on the the terminus.” The situation is no led by the Corporation. We only be shifted to the side streets, where be forced to carry the bags around.” footpath, appreciated the move better at Thiruvanmiyur Bus Ter - manage the vehicles as operators. around 500 parking spots have Shop owners feared that their but wished that the path would be minal. Hari Krishnan, an elderly re - Any complaint we receive from the been identified by the Corporation. businesses would be affected. made even soon, to facilitate his Construction ongoing at Pondy Bazaar | AKSHARA SRIVASTAVA sident of Thiruvanmiyur said, “I public, we forward it to the Corpo - Pedestrians in the market had a “No cars, no crowd, no business. believe if there were any mainte - ration.” Branch manager at Thiru - mixed response to the move. business,” said a hawker selling “There have been many However, N. Muthuraman, a An official in the Greater nance checks they may have hap - vanmiyur Bus Terminal was not “It is a good move, as it will handkerchiefs when asked about accidents due to heavy traffic and traffic police inspector in the area Chennai Corporation said the pened 10 years ago. The roads are available and branch manager at T make shopping easier, with no fear the plan. now the construction work. The denied that there were accidents project was a part of the Smart City cracked. There are barely any ben - Nagar Bus Terminus declined to of traffic,” said Prem Kumar, a Javed Ahmed, owner of a uneven path causes many people to involving cars and pedestrians, but Project started by the Greater ches to sit on. The MTC staff never comment stating that he was not at frequent visitor to the area. footwear shop, said, “They (the fall, hopefully the plan will put an added that the move will facilitate Chennai Corporation and was set to inform people when a bus is about liberty to comment without permis - When asked about the mode of Corporation) should focus on end to those,” he said. the free flow of traffic. be launched by April. to leave. The elderly like me and sion from MTC. CHOKES ON SEWAGE AND PLASTIC ANKITA MARWAHA According to a report by The MRTS station-Tiruvanmiyur finished, but they haven’t released Hindu multiple private sewage MRTS station stretch, Eyes On The any details in the public domain The Buckingham Canal remains pipes have been found discharging Canal (EOTC) has been organizing yet,” she added. Seven government choked with sewage, muck, water waste into the canal. community integration and departments are involved in the hyacinth, and plastic bottles and “There is always a foul smell awareness programmes since May planning and implementation of the wrappers and repeated complaints and the open stagnant canal has 2018. “The public needs to stand schemes to restore the Couum and have been in vain. become a breeding ground for up and claim ownership of the the Adyar rivers, and the The 796-km long canal flowing mosquitos, often causing fever canal that passes by their Buckingham Canal. The Greater from Andhra Pradesh to Tamil among the residents,” said neighbourhood,” she added. Chennai Corporation is responsible Nadu, has been reduced to a Venkateshan. “The government The EOTC has organised an for solid waste removal, Public stagnant drain in Chennai because comes only after rainy season to open-ideas competition, inviting Works Department for desilting of the pollution from industries and spray mosquito-repellent,” he people to offer ideas to revive the and demarcation, and Chennai sewage pipes, and structures added. Dhanalaxmi, who lives near canal. The winners of the Rivers Restoration Trust (CRRT) encroaching on it. Light House, said “The competition will finalise their for monitoring the whole project. “People used to travel on boats Corporation van comes to collect proposal by March. The Central Government had on the canal in the 1940s to Adyar garbage from our locality every “We’re hoping this proposal can announced a Rs. 2,000-crore plan to sell vegetables,” recalled Valli day. However, people continue to be absorbed in the government’s in 2016 for the rejuvenation of the (70), who was born in Indira Nagar spit and throw garbage in the restoration plan or pose as an 1,095-kilometer canal. and has been living there since. canal.” On the and alternative. We’ve already met to “We’ve started with the “The trading stopped in 1950s- Tiruvanmiyur stretch of the canal, all the necessary agencies and restoration of the two rivers, but 60s due to public encroachment the Chennai MRTS acquired the Plastic and filth floats on a stretch of the canal | ANKITA MARWAHA multiple stakeholders involved,” our team is currently working on and dumping of [solid] waste, land and built the overhead railway said Vidhya. the canal’s restoration report. It will which created blocks at certain tracks above the canal route. MRTS. Since the stations and the said Vidhya Mohankumar, Project The Canal and Urban Design “We’re still waiting for the be out in two months,” said points,” said G. Venkateshan (75), a “The government never dealt rail tracks were built, the condition Lead of the Buckingham Canal Collective. government to release its plan. Mr.Vishwanathan of the CRRT resident of Kasturba Nagar. with the land acquired to build the of the canal has only degraded,” restoration project under Eyes On Working on the They say that they are almost office. Edition 1 Page 3_Layout 1 2/5/2019 10:11 AM Page 1

CHENNAI February 01, 2019 THE WORD CITYSCAPE 3 Workers choke on dust ABHINAYA HARIGOVIND According to H B Chandrashekhar, chief of People working in leather buffing pulmonology at Columbia Asia units are prone to developing Hospital, , “Inhalation of breathing difficulties and skin dust that contains inorganic rashes, according to doctors and materials like pigments can cause workers. asthma and its symptoms of cough, B Balan, a 38-year-old worker breathlessness and wheezing. It can who smoothens goat hide to make also cause hypersensitive suede leather, is covered from head pneumonitis (lung inflammation).” to toe in a fine, bluish-white dust. Big tanneries and leather He finds it difficult to breathe exporters have done away with sometimes and has a skin allergy small buffing machines that that leaves rashes on his arms. process one small sheet of leather Balan is one of five workers at a at a time. 'buffing' unit in Nagalkeni, “We have a ‘through-feed’ . The buffing machine machine for buffing,” said Saif he works at is fitted with a cylinder Ahmed, owner of Jahan Leather and sand paper that removes the Exports in Nagalkeni. rough, top surface of the hide to “It can process large sheets of leave behind the inner layer that Balan, who works at a buffing unit in Nagalkeni, is covered leather at once and removes the gives suede its velvety feel. in dust and says he finds it difficult to breathe. |ABHINAYA dust by itself without the workers Kanthamma (left) takes the new red bus since other buses are congested. |AISHWARYAA Hide is tanned with chromium having to touch the dust. The (III) sulphate to make a moist, light Kumar. “Tanneries that do not have “We have tried using the green machine is also connected to a blue sheet called wet blue which is their own buffing machines, buy disposable masks. But that does not chimney that collects and removes dried and fed into the buffing sheets of leather from the small filter the dust. It is everywhere,” he the dust.” This machine was machine to make suede. buffing units and colour them to said. imported from Italy. According to Uday Kumar, produce finished suede.” Idris Seth, technical officer at the “Smaller units cannot afford the No buses for ‘disabled’ President of the Pallavaram Raghu Jagadeesh (42) has been National Institute of Occupational machine,” said K Shivaraj, who Tanneries Association, the 120 working at a buffing unit on Health, Ahmedabad, said, owns and works at a small buffing AISHWARYAA R vehicle. I need to carry her on my get down wherever necessary. tanneries in the Pallavaram- Main Road in “Inhaling dust containing particles unit. “A small buffing machine waist as she can’t walk, and on top However Mary said, “The passes Chromepet area do not have the Nagalkeni since he was 12 years of chromium III is not dangerous if with a single cylinder costs Rs 1, Commuting on the Metropolitan of that I need to climb those huge are valid only until their school, Pollution Control Board's old. He recently started developing the exposure is only for a short 75, 000. The ones with a big Transport Corporation buses is very steps on the bus. People behind me office or medical centres. If they permission to make wet blue since breathing trouble and rashes on his duration. Prolonged exposure, cylinder that can process bigger difficult for differently-abled help sometimes, but otherwise they need to travel beyond that chromium can contaminate the arms. “The effect of the dust has particularly if they are working in sheets of leather can cost around Rs passengers, says a representative of are mean and impatient to just destination, they are charged. Their water and cause health problems in only started showing now. I had no closed spaces, can cause allergies 6 lakhs or even more if they are these people. barge inside the bus,” she said. parents or escorts are not given any nearby residential areas. The wet problems when I was younger,” he and respiratory problems.” imported.” “The visually challenged are not The first two seats of an MTC concession.” blue is supplied from . said. Buffing units have small rooms “The smaller units also employ guided. The physically challenged bus are reserved for the disabled The newly launched buses have “There are around 50 small He now works with a with little ventilation and workers more people. The big machines do not have proper space to sit. The and old passengers. grab bars and better aisle spaces. buffing units in and around the handkerchief wrapped around his operate the machine from 7 a.m. to need only two people to operate mentally challenged are not even But more than often it is They have a stop button near the Chromepet area,” said Uday nose and mouth. 7 p.m. them,” he said. provided a seat,” said Mary, Public occupied by others. The seats seats for the elderly and differently Relations Officer at the Federation reserved have little leg space. The abled people to indicate to the of Tamil Nadu Physically aisle is only around three feet. driver where they need to get down. Handicapped Association. Clearly these spaces are insufficient But since these buses are not very “What is worse is, sometimes even for a person without any frequent and the fares are high, Safety concerns in MTC buses they cannot even sit in the assigned disability. people do not prefer them. seat, since it is occupied by others Kanthamma (72), a flower Kavitha (42), an MTC bus ASHMITA MUKHERJEE equipped with amplifiers with panic buttons. never opt for evening shifts at work.” who refuse to get up. Conductors vendor in takes the conductor for 11 years, said, “I do However K. Ravichandran, Superintendent of Parul Vipul Shah, another commuter at the are not very vigilant or strict with 7H bus from Central Station to try my best to make sure the Only 56 of the 3,716 Metropolitan Transport Industrial Relations’ division of MTC, Chennai Thiruvanmiyur Bus Terminal said, “I had just these issues,” said Mary. Purasawalkam. The buses are mentally and physically disabled Corporation (MTC) buses have a panic button said, “To my knowledge no funds have been boarded one of the buses leaving the T. Nagar Shameena Begum (38) takes her usually crowded in the morning. are properly accommodated. Some that commuters can use in times of emergency. given to the state government for the installation bus terminus when someone behind me stole 12-year-old daughter to the Bala “I took the new red colour bus passengers understand but there are Highlighting the need for such a button, of panic buttons in buses. Moreover, employees from my bag. I thought the movement was that Vihar School for the Mentally today, only because it is not a few who create problems women passengers at T. Nagar Bus Terminus of MTC have no relation with the facilities a bus of my child in my arms. I did not realize I was Challenged in from her crowded. But the ticket cost in intentionally. Public awareness and Thiruvanmiyur Bus Terminal expressed comes with.” pick-pocketed until much later. ” residence in Nungambakkam, these [new red] buses is very high. regarding this issue is very less.” concern over the frequent occurrences of pick Stella Mary, a frequent commuter at T. Nagar Karthikeyan, Sub-Inspector at the every day by bus. Rs.11 for just 2 or 3 stops is not Shameena finds it increasingly pocketing and harassment in buses. Bus Terminus said, “I have been a victim of Kotturpuram Police Station said that he was Shameena works at a tailoring right, not at least for me,” she said. difficult by the day as Usma is Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami sexual harassment in the terminus. It was early aware of the launch of the new buses and the shop in T. Nagar and earns Rs. However, an MTC official said getting older, and cannot be carried flagged off 555 new buses from the Secretariat evening, I was sitting inside the bus when I saw emergency buttons. 6500 a month. Her husband works that the differently abled people around easily. “I do not know how this month, of which 56 belong to MTC. All the a man standing near the terminal’s office “There have been no cases reported at our as a driver and earns Rs.10,000 a were given free passes for I can manage in the coming years buses have been built as per the AIS 052 code, building and exposing his genitals to me. I did station regarding crimes committed in buses. We month. travelling to and fro their respective if this situation persists. Her created by the Automotive Research Association not raise any alarm as I was in a state of shock. have not heard of complaints from women about “We can only afford to take the destinations, and the buses halted education is at stake,” she said with of India (ARAI). These buses have been Lack of safety during transit is the reason why I any lack of safety in buses,” he said. bus as her father doesn’t own any even in between stops for them to a sigh. Evicted hawkers return to streets BHARAT SHARMA Kapaleeshwarar , the leaving only a narrow stretch for they gave us other places to set up impossible to provide alternative Mada streets remain crowded traffic and pedestrians. However, our stalls, maybe we could locations simply because Hawkers who were evicted on throughout the day, especially the street vendors had different leave.” Most hawkers earn hawkers’ occupation of streets January 22 from South and North during festivals. Many residents stories about the same situation. between Rs. 400 and Rs. 1000 was “illegal.” Mada streets in Mylapore have believe that if the hawkers were Mohan Shuthan (34), who has every day. “Even now, they always run since then slowly reoccupied the removed permanently, most of been selling flowers in North “Sometimes I have had to sleep away when we come so we barely spaces on either side of the their problems will subside. Kajal Mada Street for five years, said on an empty stomach because have a dialogue. They know that Kapaleeshwarar . Gupta (25), who lives in a rented that the problem of congestion they throw our stuff if we don’t they’re not supposed to be selling K. Sampath (52), who has been apartment on South Mada Street, should be addressed without move, leaving us cornered,” without licences,” he said. living in North Mada Street for 30 said, “Without footpaths, people compromising their livelihoods. Dhanasekar added. Seetha The Traffic Police also scare years, has approached the Greater walk on roads. This creates traffic “We get steady if not good Achuthan, a regular temple visitor hawkers away for a few hours, Chennai Corporation office in jams. These jams create noise.” income from here… Every time believed that hawkers were only but never permanently. Mylapore multiple times. The root cause of all problems the [traffic] police show up, most part of a bigger problem. The city has 3,966 registered “They [government bodies] in the area for many seemed to be of us have to run and hide from “Streets are dirty and jammed hawkers but more than 1 lakh Shelters are unable to cater to the ever-increasing respond only during temple hawkers. Most hawkers sell them… some of us don’t get time even where there are no sellers. operate without licences. homeless population. |THE HINDU related events or when someone vegetables, fruits, food, toys, and to pack our stuff which is then left It’s simple mismanagement. If According to the Non- important is coming… Even then, flowers to be offered at the on the street until the police they got rid of the cars, maybe Motorised Transport Policy that it’s always temporary. These temple. Jams are aggravated by disappear or they take it with those poor sellers wouldn’t need was introduced in 2015, spaces people [hawkers] eventually people with cars who stop to buy them,” he said. to move,” she said. were supposed to be allocated for Homeless lack shelter come back,” he said. street items. In addition, vehicles Vinoth Dhanasekar (42), who S Rangathan, an official at the street vendors but nothing has BHARAT SHARMA every one lakh of urban population. Owing to their proximity to the are indiscriminately parked sells fruits for a living, said, “If Corporation office, said it was been done, said the vendors. Most shelters are unable to cater As many as 49 people were picked to the ever-increasing homeless up from on January population in the city. 30 night as part of the drive Britto, who works as a conducted by the Greater Chennai coordinator at Paadhai, a shelter in Corporation every two weeks to Valsaravakkam, suggested that rehabilitate homeless people. women and kids remain a priority Fishermen families at Marina caught in a loop Muthu Kumaran (54) has been for rescue efforts. Owing to this ASHNA BUTANI a new market on the Marina Beach. living on the pavements opposite and lack of shelters, many old Bharathi, President of the South Indian Madras University ever since his people, especially men do not Fishermen in area say that they are Fishermen Welfare Association, said, “The wife died five years ago. He said receive immediate attention. being forced to move their shops on the Loop fishermen are being shifted repeatedly in the that the government did help “Many of them will stand Road because the Greater Chennai name of beautification.” people like him but it did not have outside liquor shops and ask others Corporation wants to clean up the place and He added that the residents of any long term effects. to buy them alcohol… Most of allow free flow of traffic. Nochikuppam who previously sold fish “They took me once too… They them end up on the streets again Motorists have alleged these roadside fish behind the Mahatma Gandhi statue, were just want to dump you on any less than 24 hours later as we can’t stalls spill on to the road and impede traffic shifted in 1968. They are now struggling for living family members, and since I stop them if they decide to leave which gets heavy during peak hours when more space as they are growing in number. have none, I was sent to a night and we have new people coming in Santhome High Road is made one-way and “Our only problem is the government,” shelter where I spent a night before every day,” he added. vehicles are diverted through the Loop Road. said 52-year-old Vijayraj, a fisherman from they told me that they were short on Jaya (22), an orphan, has made Last year the pulled up nearby Ayodhyakuppam. space,” he said. the beach his home. Growing up on the Corporation for not cleaning up the A.R.P.M Kamraj (56) says that the There are currently 46 the streets, he has no faith in Marina Beach area including the Loop Road. fishermen do not receive subsidies. They government shelters for the government efforts. “What is the The court had also directed the Corporation require a minimum of 3000 litres of diesel a homeless in Chennai out of which point of helping if you to build a market for the fish vendors on the month, but they get only 300 litres from the 10 are “special centres” situated in [government] give us a mattress Loop Road. government. The subsidy was limited to Rs. hospitals for people who require and food for only one night. I The Corporation told the court that a fish 3 for 500 litres per boat. immediate care. barely have anything to eat. I would market was coming up in Nochikuppam Also the fishermen and the Corporation The Corporation identified much rather have food than behind the Santhome for the 250 have been pointing fingers at each other for nearly 9,000 homeless people shelter,” he said. vendors who were on the Loop Road. the dirt and waste material on Loop Road. based on a third-party survey last As part of the Corporation’s plan However the fishermen alleged that they The fishermen alleged that the Corporation year. , and to construct shelters in Greater were being evicted from the place where they was dumping debris from construction sites were identified as Chennai, contractors bid at the cost earned their livelihood. in an attempt to widen the road. places with the highest population of Rs. 5.5 crores. Fishermen from Nochikuppam, Nochi However another report in The Times of of homeless people. But the bids were never opened Nagar, Selvarajapuram, Bhavanikuppam and File photo of protest on Loop Road. THE COASTAL RESOURCE CENTRE India cited some fishermen as saying the As per the National Urban amidst corruption allegations Srinivasapuram set up their stalls on Loop debris was being dumped to level the area Livelihoods Mission guidelines, regarding stormwater drains and Road. Santhome, people would complain about the yet another place. along the Loop Road to help the vendors set there should be one shelter for bus routes. They said that once they shifted to smell and they would be asked to relocate to The fishermen demanded the setting up of up their stalls. Edition 1 Page 4_Layout 1 2/5/2019 10:34 AM Page 1

THE WORD CHENNAI February 1, 2019 4 CITYSCAPE Quota jobs in Rly delayed AISHANI SAHA certificates have to be scrutinized vacancies out of which five “Southern Railways resuming and only two or three people will sportsperson will be directly recruitment under sports quota Southern Railway has been unable be handpicked after the trials, chosen by the Railway Sports means a job opportunity for to complete the recruitment hence the recruitment process Promotion Board. athletes who can focus on their process under the sports quota due should start at least by June.” Suresh said, “This year there is game and not worry about to the process starting late for three According to the Ministry of no recruitment of Group D because financial support.” consecutive years from the year Railway, there are two groups, the previous panel was involved in “In 2013, two of my students 2016 to 2018. Group D consisting of team sports malpractice and was biased were recruited under sports quota “The entire panel of Southern like cricket, volleyball and Group towards few candidates.” for the women’s volleyball team,” Railway’s sports association was C, consisting of individual events Mahendra Prasad, cricket coach said Nagarajan. dismissed as they were unable to like boxing, chess. at YMCA, said “It has been a long R Sangeeta, an athlete (high complete the recruitment process The recruitment under sports time since anybody from YMCA jump) who had represented Indian for the past three years,” said quota is done through talent has been recruited under the quota in the South Asian Games, said “A Suresh Krishnaswami Sadasiva, scouting which means anybody for cricket. This year they don’t job would mean financial security; Chief Ticket Inspector and one of who has participated or won in an have tryouts for cricket probably it’s good for the athletes. Few years the recruiters for the association. international championship can because they don’t require back Southern Railway’s athletics He is also the coach of the ball apply and through open anymore players for their cricket team was unbeatable, even now the badminton team of Southern advertisement, where the recruiters team.” women’s basketball team is the Railway. will conduct a trial for the Dr P. Nagarajan, the head coach best here.” Suresh said that the A park where physical disabilities is no bar | ABHINAYA HARIGOVIND “The recruitment process is applicants. of Prime Sports Academy which new panel had given out the dates long, there are over 1000 Group D has vacancy for 48 coaches the less privileged men and recruitment process would candidates applying, their candidates and Group C has 25 and women in athletics said, start in March for 2019-20. Park with a difference ABHINAYA HARIGOVIND park herself. “I cannot take my Kavitha Krishnamoorthy, founder daughter to functions or other of Kilikili, a non-governmental Parents of differently abled places like because of her organization. Fearless, the band rages on children are glad that there finally behavioural problems. She needs to Kilikili helped construct the park AINDRISHA MITRA process, Tenma said musicians like is a park in the city that caters to be watched all the time. Here she in collaboration with the Disability Santosh Narayanan and Yogi B their children's special needs. can play freely and I can relax,” she Rights Alliance, the Smart Cities The Casteless Collective, whose inspired them to channelize their At the Infinity Park in Santhome, said. Project, Chennai Corporation and show was stopped by the police rage into words and tunes. which was opened to the public last The park is filled with sensory Cityworks, an architectural firm. because of alleged references to With their debut album month, they no longer need to experiences. A walking path in the According to Kavitha, apart Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 'Magizhchi’ released last month, monitor their children closely as shape of the number eight is paved from around 70 students at the one of its songs, says it will the band is looking forward to more the space is disabled-friendly. From with materials of different textures Resource Centre, children with continue with its “anti-caste” and gig and concerts in the coming tactile sensors for the visually – sand, pebbles, grass, fibre. There special needs come to the park “equality” campaign. days. impaired to swings, sand pits and a is a line of wooden sticks that from all corners of the city since it On January 27, the police “Our popularity as a band merry-go-round that can be produce sound and stepping blocks is the only such space in Chennai. intervened midway into the band’s remains untarnished. Hopefully, accessed by wheelchair-bound of different sizes for children to “The idea was to create an performance at a festival in Elliot’s we’ll go international soon,” said children, the park offers facilities gauge distance and height. inclusive park – it is also open to Beach as the members sang a song Tenma who has several projects for different categories of disability. Jagganathan, Gowri's son, turns children without disabilities,” she that referred to Modi. lined up. “Unlike other public spaces, we wheels of different sizes that are set said. This came at a time when the Nityanand Jayaraman, who was do not have to worry about the against a colourful wall. “Since Sometimes, children without hashtag “#GoBackModi” trended one of the organisers of the show, children here. There are belts on the these children cannot do activities disorders outnumber those with on Twitter during Modi’s visit to finds the incident to be a part of a swings and slides are at a lower like ride a bicycle, the park disabilities at the park. “Children Tamil Nadu. larger problem country-wide. height. Even if children fall, there provides other resources to develop with autism and Down Syndrome Tenma, the lead singer of the To him, the police clampdown are fibre mats all around so they do motor skills and hand-eye are scared around large groups of band, said the song was named Living the ‘casteless’ life |SOURCE: FACEBOOK was reflective of the fringe-group not get hurt,” said K S Gowri coordination,” said Jawaheera T, a people. “Modi Mastan” which actually mentality that throttled any voice whose seven-year-old son has teacher at the Resource Centre. Their movements are slow and meant “magician”. approach towards various issues “We believe in no sugar coating with an opinion. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity “Sensory impairments are very they lose balance if the swing or It was the eighth song that they that highlight caste discrimination and aspire to reach out to our The band was formed in Disorder (ADHD) and ten-year-old common among children with merry-go-round is too fast. were playing when the organisers in the society. audience with a hard-hitting November 2017 when Tamil film son has Down Syndrome. Both ADHD, autism and mental Children without disorders find it asked them to stop the song and Arivu, another band member, message,” says Arivu. director, Pa Ranjith and his children attend classes at the State retardation. It is not just about difficult to cooperate with them,” play others. said that people often misconstrue Arivu himself comes from a organization, Neelam Cultural Resource Centre for Inclusive visual and hearing issues, but also Nithya said. “We end up landing in the fact that reserving seats solve background and has Centre, collaborated with Education adjoining the park. problems of touch, balance and Kilikili is working to set up controversies due to the content we all the problems for the backward composed songs like “Jai-Bhim independent musician Tenma to Nithya A, whose daughter has movement. They need to different timings for both sets of produce,” said Tenma who claims communities whereas the real Anthem” or “The Quota song”. lead the ‘casteless’ movement ADHD and speech impairment, understand the difference between children to avoid compromising the that his band has a counter-cultural struggles are much harder. Talking about the creative ahead. feels like she can take a break at the soft and hard surfaces,” said needs of the disabled. railway station gets a “clean” chit ANKITA MARWAHA Since the past three years, mop and wash floors manually. contract with the Krystal second in the cleanest station in there has been an emphasis on The cleanliness level has Integrated Services Private Southern Railways, after Bright green and blue dustbins the sanitation of the stations and increased mostly due to Limited since December 2018, Ernakulam South in . for biodegradable and non- the third cleanliness assessment mechanisation of mopping and “the station has 150 plastic Chinna said “The mindset of biodegradable waste, and across 407 stations, released by washing floors. Earlier, these dustbins, 28 machines, six people has started changing after Swachh Bharat posters, the Indian Railways in August, used to be performed manually.” supervisors, and around 16 the Swachh Bharat campaign reminding the passengers to keep shows this enthusiasm. said an official at the station. workers,” said Mr. A. Chinna and people now look around for the station clean, can be spotted The survey was based on Elavarasu, who travels to (50), Supervisor, who started dustbins for throwing out the every ten feet on Platform no. 4 direct observation, citizen Tuticorin every few months to working at the station in 2012. garbage.” of the Chennai Egmore Railway feedback and station manager visit his family, said “Yes, I read “Since I joined here, I have The campaign, however, fails Station. interview. about the station’s ranking in the never seen the workers picking to address waste disposal and It took endless hours of “The assessors had informed newspaper, and was very happy waste manually. They are given management. mopping and washing, and us about the survey a week or to hear that.” rubber gloves, face masks, and “Although we have provided restless days of supervision for two in advance and when they The station, during the survey, uniforms by the company while separate dustbins for the station to rank fourth in the arrived, they took pictures of the had ten cleaning workers, 2 to 3 they are at work,” he added. biodegradable and non- most improved stations across platforms and the tracks, machines, and a few stainless “However, since the last biodegradable waste throughout India by the Swachh Rail, inquired our Station Manager, steel dustbins for 15 platforms survey, we have improved a lot, the station for the passengers, all Swachh Bharat, 2018 survey, and uploaded the information under a 5-year contract with and hope to rank even higher the waste eventually ends up said Mr. Chandan Kumar, Health online,” said Mr. Kumar. Bharat Vikas Group. next year .” getting mixed and dumped in the A woman cleaning the dustbins at the station |ANKITA MARWAHA Inspector at the station. “The workers earlier used to Today, under a new 4-year Egmore station also ranked same yard,” he added. Gender: An issue Madras Art Guild: Connecting Communities ASHITHA JAYAPRAKASH Most of the artwork has been about the intertwining of the ancient and the While malls and shopping centres in contemporary, like in the installation of in the job market Chennai focus on interior decorations that The Dice-Time Machine/ Time Dice by ASHNA BHUTANI are avant garde, VR Chennai, a retail Cathaerin Kuruvilla & group, from the shopping centre in Anna Nagar, takes Government College of Fine Arts in Transgenders say that they do not get jobs pride in being a promoter of art and Chennai. The artist here has tried to easily because people do not want to culture conducting an interactive art invoke nostalgia by stacking up toys that employ them. exhibition that opened on January 10 and were once irresistible for people when Maya, a 28-year-old transgender, says will be open till February 11. they were children. “I want to work. But nobody is willing to The Madras Art Guild, an art employ me because of my gender.” exhibition that has been doing the rounds Her mother still beats her up with a cane in various VR shopping centre locations because of her identity. She had changed in India, was envisioned first in 2013 to her name from Arun to Maya. She "connect communities through art", says underwent surgery at the age of 26, Siddharth, Events and Promotions “successfully,” she says. Her brothers and manager, VR Chennai. sisters support her. She helps her mother, No jobs despite having Connecting communities is their brand Lata with selling fish. “I cannot go fishing knowledge and skills | ASHNA B slogan and all marketing activities because of my body,” she says. Every revolve around embracing the transgender gets a government ID card but and security, transgender people create communities in which the shopping that is of no help, they say. communities and self-help groups in order centre is situated. The idea is to give According to The Hindu, the to aid themselves. Kalki Subramaniyan, a artists a different platform for their Transgender Welfare Board met last in transgender activist, artist and writer says artwork, he adds. 2013. The government schemes for that the transgender family system in Sonali, the coordinator for the month transgender persons include self unites and binds them all. long event, says "The kind of exposure employment grants for small businesses, Pointing to a photo of her transgender these artists get is extraordinary, because vocational training, material support and family, Maya says “This is my real it's reaching huge masses." access to employment after registering in family.” Prithika Yashini, her non-blood The exhibits are a collection of the State Employment Exchange. sister, was the first transgender sub- interactive art installations, sculptures and However, none of these schemes are inspector in Tamil Nadu. paintings by students of the Government operational today. Grace Banu was the first transgender to College of Fine Art in Chennai, Maya is a 12th pass from a corporation take up higher studies in the state. Plagued and Kumbakonam and school. “I can do any kind of work. I am by social stigma and poverty, Maya says professionals from different corners of even okay with cleaning toilets a month, “I wish to be as accomplished as my other India. Workshops for children, film but they do not give me that opportunity,” family members, but I can only help my screenings and competitions, all takes she says. Due to lack of government help mother sell fish.” place inside the shopping centre. Various art exhibits on show at the Madras Art Guild | ASHITHA J