Toilets Matter As Much As Classrooms: An IT Engineer Makes Time For Snakes

Sunday, November 21, 2021
Toilets matter as
much as
classrooms
By building washrooms, Rotary Club of Madras has
improved the profile of a Government High School at
Sithalapakkam and, if its management’s reasoning is Government High School at Sithalapakkam got new toilets. PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
sound, increased its enrolment rate to some extent wards to school, say teach Ravi, President nominee, keep the toilets clean. “We
ers. Rotary Club of Madras. also want the staff to bring
LIFFY THOMAS Last year, the manage the staff. In June, when the school Before signing up for the in behavioural change
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ment approached the Ro Clean toilets are a crite conducted a PTA meeting, social project, the Club among students about not
tary Club about building toi rion for some parents. “Dur the management invited Ro members had done a survey defecating in the open and
T
he Government High lets for the school as the ing admission, some want tary Club members to help around the school and polluting the lake,” says Ra
School at Sithalapak existing ones were grossly us to take them on a tour of parents understand the in found that the fringes of the vi, adding that the Club has
kam in Medavakkam inadequate for its current the school or ask us about frastructure boost that was sprawling Sithalapakkam begun work on restoring the
has seen a 16% increase in strength. specific infrastructure in coming up. lake, which is located near lake.
enrolment this academic “With just one toilet, the cluding washrooms. Girl “I was part of the meet the school, were used for According to the school,
year. There may be other go school opened in 2009 for students may drop out if the and we announced to pa open defecation by local pe the PTA has agreed to over
vernment schools that can 383 students from classes VI toilets are unclean or in rents about the construc ople including students. see the maintenance of the
flaunt similar percentages. to X. Later, as the enrolment adequate,” says the staff. tion of 56 toilets and 16 wash “We were convinced that washrooms at the school.
What is unique about this numbers increased, three The institution is the only stations for the benefit of the school needed more toi “We have hired a person to
case is that the school man toilets for boys and three for other government high students and the teaching lets and as we also wanted clean the washrooms regu
agement believes the new girls were added but that school within a threefour staff so that they do not have them to be well maintained, larly and we will be monitor
swanky washrooms played was still not adequate kilometre radius. A majority to rethink about sending we have been handholding ing the upkeep of the place,”
some part in this good for enough,” says a senior staff. of parents sending their their children to the school. the staff about monitoring says S Ravi, PTA member
tune. Whether that is true or In 2020, our school had children to the school are We also asked them to re them,” says Ravi. and panchayat president.
not, it has to thank Rotary 761 students and this aca daily wage earners or work view the progress in work, He says if every student The teachers pool in mo
Club of Madras for these demic year we got close to as domestic help and need so as to make them feel a spends ₹10 a month then the ney to employ a person to
new washrooms. 130 new admissions, says to be pushed to send their part of the project,” says S school can hire a person to clean the staff toilets.
An IT engineer makes time for snakes

Besides rescuing these reptiles, he raises awareness about them among his neighbours
L KANTHIMATHI AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA name in the list of volunteers
I requested
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meant to rescue snakes. I rescue
these people
O
n November 12, Vijay snakes in Kelambakkam, Siruseri
Anandan M took a day to call me the and Sholinganallur,” says Vijay, a
off from work. The IT scuba diver.
engineer was attending to a few next time they Vijay also conducts awareness
snake rescue calls from encountered a sessions on snakes for his
Semmancheri and snake in their neighbours.
Sholinganallur. “I tell them that snakes play a
Following a heavy downpour,
house instead key role in the ecosystem. For
these snakes had entered of killing it. example, rat snakes help
houses. Vijay views his That’s how it farmers in managing the pests in
voluntary work as rescuing began. the fields. Rat snakes also keep a
snakes from being killed. Ever check on the rodent population.
since the onset of this monsoon, Recently, the wires in my car
Vijay has rescued 12 snakes were impaired by rodents and I
including two cobras. Amidst requested these people to call making cosmetics and had to spend a lot in repairing it.
office work, he manages to find me the next time they medicines and also believed to I also tell people that our houses
time for snake rescues. encountered a snake in their bring luck and wealth. Hence, I and the surrounding premises
Vijay moved to Sholinganallur house instead of killing it. That’s decided to hand over that snake should be kept clean and
from Egmore four years ago as how it began,” says Vijay, who to the forest department to clutterfree. Pileups of
that would make his commute to learnt about snakes at a prevent any false accusations cardboard boxes, plywoods and
Siruseri easy. workshop “Scientific Training of against me. tyres are conducive places for
“In Sholinganallur, I have Reptile Management”, offered That is when forest officials snakes. As per rules, I can only
seen people killing even by Kalinga Centre For Rainforest told me that I am not supposed conduct theory sessions and not
nonvenemous snakes — such as Ecology. to rescue snakes without the supposed to demonstrate a
rat snakes, checkered keelback, Once he happened to rescue a knowledge of the department. rescue operation with a snake,”
olive keelback, kukuri, sandboa snake and that led him They said that such rescue says Vijay.
bronzeback tree snake, buff to become a volunteer calls have to be routed through His neighbours have
striped keelback, wolf snake, recognised by the Tamil Nadu them. Hence, I was asked to presented him with the tools
Vijay Anandan M rescues snakes in and sandboa — out of fear for Forest Department. become a volunteer with the necessary to rescue snakes.
Sholinganallur, Siruseri and Kelambakkam their own safety. I wanted to do “A sandboa snake is illegally department. Now, the Vijay Anandan M can be
areas. PHOTOS: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT something about it. Hence, I traded because of its use in department has mentioned my reached at 98843 06960.
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
2 PEOPLE CHENNAI DOWNTOWN

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2021
Nurses take the Groups Volunteers

shot of nostalgia distributing
food engaged in snake
From the 1991 batch of Madras Medical
College, they plan to meet annually and
PHOTO : JOTHI RAMALINGAM .B
rescue
also take up social causes A list of IAS officers who Shravan Krishnan is an animal welfare activist and
monitor rains-related heads Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary in
relief measures Besant Nagar. He primarily attends to snake
Democratic Youth rescue calls from OMR and ECR. Ph: 94450
Federation of In ZONE 1 Thiruvottiyur 70909 / 63791 63347
dia (DYFI) South K. Nandakumar Jason Dominic Gerard, a resident of Chromepet,
Chennai is distribut PH: 75502 25801 / 94451 90001
ing food packets to
and a wildlife researcher. He volunteers in areas
ZONE 2 Manali
the underprivileged south of Chennai and its suburbs. Ph: 80562
Mariam Pallavi Baldev
who are badly hit fol 04821
lowing the recent PH: 75502 25802 / 94451 90002
Robin Ezhil, a
heavy rains. Ph: ZONE 3 Madhavaram
98840 65552 Santosh Babu
resident of
Sai Institutions PH: 75502 25803 / 94451 90003 Chromepet, is a
The class of 1991 . PHOTO: M KARUNAKARAN Food will be distri
ZONE 4 Tondiarpet cinematographer.
buting food at Vela
LIFFY THOMAS She says six of her chery, Saidapet, T. T. N. Venkatesh He volunteers for
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batchmates got employed by Nagar, Madipakkam, PH: 75502 25804 / 94451 90004 snake rescues in
T
he 1991 batch of the the Hospital through campus Pallikaranai, Vada ZONE 5 Royapuram PHOTO USED FOR
Chromepet,
Diploma in General placement. plani and Ashok Na P. Umanath
REPRESENTATIONAL PURPOSE ONLY
Nursing and Midwifery “A total of 1500 people gar. Ph: Pallavaram and Tambaram. Ph: 88078 70610.
PH: 75502 25805 / 94451 90005
had their first reunion on had applied for a post and 40 9176009400. A Ganeshan, a resident of Pattabiram volunteers
November 14, 30 years after were shortlisted after a series ZONE 6 Thiru Vi Ka Nagar
in and around Anna Nagar and Ambattur. Ph:
they graduated from Madras of interviews with experts C. Kamaraj
Medical College. from various departments; 74489 27227.
PH: 75502 25806 / 94451 90006
The longawaited reunion so stringent was the selection C.V. Ravi Kumar, a resident of Chromepet, is a
ZONE 7 Ambattur
was attended by 25 of the process and the training by wildlife conservationist. He volunteers in areas
M. Balaji
40member batch, which MMC helped us ace it,” says south of Chennai and its suburbs. Ph: 96001
they say is an achievement in Hema. PH: 75502 25807 / 94451 90007
itself as it was only a few Some of the classmates ZONE 8 Anna Nagar 19081.
years ago that a plan to went on to pursue higher R. Anand Kumar R. Praveen Kumar, a resident of Nedukundram
connect with old classmates studies and work as teaching PH: 75502 25808 / 94451 90008 near Perungulathur, does snake rescues in these
was proposed. A WhatsApp faculty. ZONE 9 Teynampet and surronding areas. Ph: 99622 05585
group — MMC 1991 Batch — The batch had won many
R. Selvaraj R. Sathiyaraj, a resident of Ramapuram, attends
was formed with a few laurels which include
members and it kept growing winning the first place in PH: 75502 25809 / 94451 90009 to calls in and around Porur and Iyappanthangal.
gradually. practicals at the state level. ZONE 10 Kodambakkam
He runs a pet shop. PH: 90943 21393.
“Some are working abroad “Coimbatore has been Areaspecific
C. Vijayraj Kumar D. Nagendran, a resident of Manali, volunteers for
and it took months to collect winning the title for some helplines put out
by Terra Tigers 75502 25810 / 94451 90010
their contact details; and five years and we broke their residents in Thondiarpet, Royapuram and
Jeep Thrills ZONE 11 Valasaravakkam
of our batchmates are no record,” says the 57yearold Manali. He works in a mechanic shop. Ph:
more,” says S. Sakila, ward sister. ECR (Sharan Sanjay R. Kirlosh Kumar
— 9962208821; PH: 75502 25811 / 94451 90011 99400 73642.
working with the Their role at the frontlines
Cardiothoracic department of the battle against COVID19 Madhu — ZONE 12 Alandur
Arjun. S, a resident of Perungudi. He is an IT
at her alma mater. duty was another topic of 9495359169), professional with a keen interest in wildlife aand
Velachery (Bala — Kiran Gurrala
As most of them work in intense discussion. Helan animal rescues. Ph: 91765 43213
988420222), PH: 7550225812 / 9445190012
different shifts, zeroing in on Margaret, nurse with
Tambaram (Suren — ZONE 13 Adyar Vijay Anandan M, a resident of Sholinganallur, and
a day and time was a Government Medical
challenge. College, Villipuram, lost her 8056108805), Mythili K. Rajendran an IT professional, attends to rescue calls from
“A colleague volunteered mother due to COVID19 this Ambattur/ Anna PH: 75502 25813 / 94451 90013 residents living along East Coast Road and Old
to do double shift, so that I year and was wreaked Nagar (Arkaprava —
ZONE 14 Perungudi Mahabalipuram Road. PH: 98843 06960.
could attend the meet,” says emotionally. She found 7200666657) and
Kilpauk/ Egmore R. Palanisamy G. Murugesan, a resident of Perungulathur,
Sakila. comfort talking to old
(Balamohan — PH: 7550225814 / 9445190014 attends to rescue calls in and around
The nostalgiafilled batchmates.
evening saw many of them “There is so much stress 9840348464; Shyam ZONE 15 Sholinganallur
— 9840317041) Maraimalai Nagar and Perungulathur. Ph:
share how the institution that we carry home that Darez Ahmed
groomed them to work sometimes it is good to hear 98848 47673.
75502 25815 / 94451 90015
during any health crisis and from your counterparts from
to be serviceminded. other hospitals on their work
A. Hema says she is lucky day and how they overcome
to be part of the 1991 batch.
“Ours was the last batch to
take up a threeandahalf
difficult phases,” says Helan.
The 1991 batch plans to
meet once a year and take up
For help from GCC For animals and birds in distress
Tamil Nadu Forest De
year course in general social causes. partment:
nursing and midwifery, after AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Greater Chennai 044 2220 0335
which the State Government Ours was the last batch Blue Cross of India:
reduced it to a threeyear Corporation’s
to take up a 9176025265 /
programme. Nurses learn three-and-a-half year helplines for 9677297978
learn much about their work floodrelated Cloud 9: 98415 88852
while doing it and the
course in general
nursing and midwifery, Besant Memorial Animal
exposure we got with some grievances Dispensary: 80126 34271
of the best faculty and labs after which the State 1913 / 044 25619206 Bay of Life: 99404 88880
was what has brought us to Government reduced it Individual volunteers
this level,” says Hema, ward to a three-year / 044 25619207 /
Azharudeen:
sister with Raja Muthiah programme 044 25619208 96298 14744
Medical College Hospital. Aditya: 91760 47608
DOWNTOWN
CHENNAI
COMMUNITY 3
A fish rush in IT heartland

Thalambur residents send out rainwater into the lake and receive fish as
return gift
Is this the monsoonal

normal for them?
When boats from Nainarkuppam in
ECR proved a lifeline for these
OMR residents
Thalambur residents fishing along Thalambur Main Road as tilapia and carp rush into the rainwaters that were being channeled
into the Thalambur lake, on November 19, 2021. PHOTOS: PRINCE FREDERICK
PRINCE FREDERICK lake was skewed much like up an inland, freshwater

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Antoine de Saint Expurey’s version of artisanal coastal
A
round noon on boa constrictor that had fishing.
November 19, when gobbled a fullgrown Every time the catch was
the skies were elephant. With the being assessed,
showering Thalambur with grotesque sprawl, the lake middleaged Babu would home in the interior sections
the gentle force of a brought some fish closer to exhort the younger lot to that it leads to.
hairstyling spray, the local civilisation, and return the immature fish to “It does not have a name,”
playground on Thalambur unfortunately, the plate as the waters. a passerby stated flatly with
Main Road hosted a well. There was a bit of not a soupçon of doubt that
“fishing game”. That postdepression noodling with a handful of he could have missed so
As they sent rainwater day, tilapia and carp were residents catching the mething.
through a network of swimming out in good rushing tilapia and carp The road seems less
temporary and permanent numbers and residents with their hands. Of known, and the plight of resi
drains into the Thalambur made the most of the course, for informed dents of the two localities
lake, residents received windfall. onlookers, this noodling that it leads to — Jawahar Na
fish as return gift. Fish do Operating handheld can be many levels less gar and Ezhilmuga Nagar —
swim against the flow for nets (that were more like exciting than what real lesser still. According to a
Towards dry ground. PRINCE FREDERICK
certain reasons, mostly to nets made to ward off noodling (taking bigsized PHOTOS: PRINCE FREDERICK || | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
GCC official with Zone 15,
snap up oncoming prey. mosquitoes than to catch catfish with one’s hands) is during the recent rains, Zone
T
Drunk on rainwater, the fish), residents had rustled all about. For the fish his road winds off the 15 employed the fishermen of
catchers though, the sense AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA IT Corridor in ano Nainarkuppam with their
of excitement was just as The inundation nymity. It is so neatly paddle boats to help these re
high. During the earlier tucked way from the bustle of sidents reach dry ground
week of rains — November being mostly at the the arterial road that it can be whenever they had to.
711 — this writer chanced three to four feet missed far too easily. Gandhi B Prabhakaran, president,
upon largely tilapiacentred level, there was nagar Main Road is part of Nainarkuppam Fishermen
noodling, as residents what marks the last outpost Cooperative Society, notes:
rushed in to catch fish that
need only for small of the Greater Chennai Cor “Six boats were pressed into
had flowed into a channel boats that are poration — the 200th ward service on GCC’s behalf and
created excess water from operated with that lies in Semmanchery — another six for the Fisheries
Selaiyur lake. paddles clinging on to its fringes. With Department.”
Fishing onthefly when Navalur nestling close by, it is On Thursday, significant
a lake spills out its often erroneously identified help had to be reached to
treasures during flooding is with that locality. Worse still these interior localities in
an indelible imprint of — as this writer found out Semmancheri.
pastoral life in villages. on November 19 “On behalf of the Fisheries
However, a sense of while seeking Department, boats were op
pleasant oddity cannot be directions erated by our fishermen in
helped when this pastoral — that its Guduvancheri, Mudichur
scene plays out against the name and Thalambur.”
backdrop of sprawling and is elu He remarks, “The inunda
tall gated communities. sive tion being mostly at the three
At Thalambur, even to four feet level, there was
diagonally opposite this for need only for small boats that
scene, stood plush gated those are operated with paddles.
communities. The fishing who These boats can accommo
assuming the flavour of a take date three to six people. In
carnival, passersby slowed the road 2015, we had to use the big
down their cars and cars to on a daily motorised boats, which can
take a fleeting look at it. basis, while accommodate 10 to 15 peo
Some stopped to take in heading back back ple.”
the scene.
4 HYGIENE
CHENNAI DOWNTOWN
Toilet As Greater Chennai Corporation

launches the next phase of
opening public toilets, citizen
talk groups weigh in with suggestions
taining these toilets under a so launching an App that

publicprivate partnership. would make it easy for tech
These nopay toilets offer Wi savvy users to make a com
Fienabled, disabledfriendly plaint,” says Abhishek.
and a space to sell food and Smart public toilets are
beverages. coming up at T Nagar, oppo
How do they plan to check site Woodlands; on Rajiv
vandalism? Gandhi Salai, opposite Taj Vi
The company’s founder and vanta; Velachery, near Phoe
CEO Abhishek Nath notes, “All nix Mall; Besant Nagar beach
Loo Cafes will have CCTV cam stretch; and near Ripon Build
eras outside the units to help ing.
identity miscreants. Besides,
we will be building, managing Paid or free?
and operating the facility,” Complaints about public toi
says Abhishek. lets charging a fee from users
Public can give their feed are common in Chennai and
back to the call centre number groups working in this area are
The Loo Cafe coming up at OMR and a view of a facility in Hyderabad. PHOTOS: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT displayed on the board. They divided over the issue.
can also talk to the staff over While many nonprofits feel
LIFFY THOMAS awareness among the public vated washrooms in the cre gift they received, helping us seeing the facility. “We are al a small fee must be levied, oth
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
on taking ownership of public matorium were not being achieve our objective,” says ers feel no one must be denied
toilets. used. Pleas by the public ad Hariharan. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA access to such a facility for not
W
ith a recent study by A few years ago, ICWO ran a dress system fell deaf ears for The Board should paying up. Hariharan says,
Greater Chennai campaign at Velankadu cre visitors. Smart loos “Whatsoever be the budget
Corporation reveal matorium (that it was main “The campaign was a suc Hyderabadbased firm Ixora take up audits of that goes into building and
ing that 289 of the 832 public taining) offering small prizes cess for two reasons, first we Corporate Service is getting public toilets maintaining these public
toilets are not in working or to those who use the res ensured the toilets were kept ready to launch five Loo Cafes, periodically and have washrooms, GCC is duty
der, there should be an ob trooms on the premises. The clean and the users them made of prefab materials, bound to invest in public
vious interest in improving campaign, which ran for a selves informed others in their where the company will meet
an efficient redressal health. An inclusive city be
these facilities. In fact, there year, was essential as the reno group about the space and the the cost of installing and main mechanism gins with a free public toilet.”
is.
“Recently, GCC sought feed
back from NGOs on how to
maintain these facilities, and
we put forward our sugges
tion. We called for a ‘Chennai
Toilet Maintenance Board’, a
More than just a toilet skin specialists, general
ber that people can call to
register any complaints
they may have,” she says.
As most of the members
nodal agency to redress grie Rotary Club of physicians and doctors of the Club live in and
vances related to public lava from other specialised around T Nagar, Vijaya says,
tories,” says Govind Rajan, Madras to areas visiting the place,” they come on morning
convenor, Dhagam
Foundation
extend HIS and says Dr Vijaya, founder walks and inspect the
CANSTOP. place.
A nonprofit, Dhagam HER Place to a As per the records of the Recently, GCC ap
Foundation has conducted au Club, an average of 300 to proached the Club to ex
dits of washrooms in Chennai few more 350 people use the facility tend this project to a few
in 2018. localities every day and 150 people other areas in T Nagar and
“The Board should take up attend the medical camp, also in Khader Nawaz Khan
audits of public conveniences she says. Road.
LIFFY THOMAS
periodically and have an effi || | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Rotary members conti “Refurbishing an existing
cient redressal mechanism.
R
otary Club of Madras nue to oversee the project toilet is not so costeffec
Currently, public complaint to seeks to alter the per and also pay for its upkeep. tive, so our upcoming pro
1913 or write to the GCC but ception about public They have outsourced the jects will be about building
it’s forwarded to various de toilets as unhygienic and ill daily operation and mainte toilets from the scratch,”
partments depending on the maintained, through its nance to a team and also says the doctor, adding that
issue,” says Govind. model project near Pedes collect a small amount from they have identified a loca
Under Swachh Bharat Mis trian Plaza at T. Nagar — HIS A free medical camp on the premises of H IS and HER Place in T users. tion in T Nagar, outside Pa
sion, the city has to develop a and HER Place. The facility Nagar . PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT “We charge ₹5 from ev nagal Park, and opposite
public toilet for every 500 comes with added ameni ery user and that amount Sarada Vidyalaya Girls
metres. Many of the existing ties which include a feeding year after the second wave. says Dr Vijaya Bharathi Ran goes towards buying clean Higher Secondary School.
toilets are either locked or room for young mothers Club members found garajan, past president, Ro ing equipment, and this is The container will be
damaged. and a space for conducting that many women avoided tary Club of Madras. in consultation with GCC,” placed without hindrance
While there is certainly a medical checkups. public washrooms due to A 20ft x 12ft old steel con says Dr Vijaya. to pedestrian and vehicular
need to increase the number Launched in 2020, the unhygienic conditions and tainer toilet placed on a People do not value so movement.
of public toilets in Chennai, facility that is operated in they wanted to address the concrete pedestal is where mething that comes free, so They also plan to add
the first step should be to en association with CANSTOP issue by building toilets. it all started. it is important to ensure more amenities like offer
sure existing facilities are bet and the Greater Chennai “We approached the Grea Every second and fourth that people not just use the the space to a smallscale
ter maintained and utilised, Corporation ran for some ter Chennai Corporation Thursday, a free medical facility but also take care of business that would also be
says AJ Hariharan, founderse months before COVID19 with a proposal and they camp is conducted with it. able to maintain the facility.
cretary, Indian Community forced it to shut down tem asked us to renovate the ex specialised doctors attend “We have a board that A café attached to the wash
Welfare Organisation (ICWO) porarily. It reopened this isting toilets that were bad,” ing to patients. “We have displays the contact num room is also being planned.
and calls for GCC to create
CH-AD _ A
DOWNTOWN
CHENNAI
LEARNING 5
Painting messages into their hearts

A Unicef-led art initiative presents issues plaguing the children of Kannagi Nagar by turning a
wall at the J11 police station into a canvas
PRINCE FREDERICK
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I
n April 2020, a Unicef in
itiative for Kannagi Nagar
children sketched messag
es into their minds. Through
comic eBooks, it made clear
the facts about Covid19 and powerment programme at to help them put aside the
cleared up the myths around Kannagi Nagar. They still are, prism of privilege and find it
it. These children themselves but now as InkLink in themselves to empathise
drew the eBooks with non A compound wall at Kannagi volunteers. with the lessprivileged. “As
profit InkLink’s guidance. On Nagar Police Station There were around 30 Kan part of ‘Art At Heart’ initiative,
World Children’s Day — No becomes a canvas for nagi Nagar children at the we get children from Kannagi
vember 20, 2021 — Unicef and positive change . Wall of Child Rights and they Nagar and those from HLC In
InkLink repeated the process of InkLink, reveals that In are all studying at the govern ternational School to sit and
for a different theme. The new klink volunteers conducted a ment school within the com paint together,” shared Kaus
initiative painted messages in survey to ascertain which munity, and are part of the In tav to drive home that what
to these children’s hearts with were the more stubborn and kLink programme. From the was happening at the Wall of
the children themselves parti destructive issues affecting Police Boys and Girls Club, Child Rights was an extension
cipating in the process. the children of Kannagi Nagar. some of these children have of an ongoing exercise.
With the compound wall at “Having worked with the an additional factor of posi
J11 Kannagi Nagar Police Sta community and the children tive influence outside of Parents quizzed
tion being the canvas, these as part of an empowerment home. The fact that this initia In the postlunch second half
children were milling around throughart project, we were tive has the support of the J11 that took place in the Police
it excitedly on the morning of aware of these issues. Howev Kannagi Nagar Police Station Boys and Girls Club facility at
November 20, painting imag er, we did not want to come children’s skin tone and body and not seven as reported by makes it a threebraided cord. Kannagi Nagar, the pro
es of positivity. Think rain across as imposing our per structure before painting the volunteer. Either way, she ACP for Thoraipakkam PK gramme got parents to be chil
bows, sunflowers and blue ceptions on the initiative, these images, the idea being remained the youngest “pain Ravi notes that when Unicef dren and visualise the latter’s
skies. Next to these evolving hence the survey,” explains that the children and the pa ter” at work on the wall. She is and InkLink sought permis world and draw it on paper.
images were completed imag Kaustav. rents should be able to relate probably too young to under sion for the painting exercise, “We are asking parents to
es that provided a sharp con Young InkLink volunteers to the images,” discloses Kaus stand the import of the paint he was impressed with what it be children on Global Chil
trast to the picture. Think and a bunch of young stu tav. ed messages, but old enough focussed on. dren’s Day and like children,
swirls of smoke, vacant dents from Government Col The wall — called the “Wall to appreciate “breathing mes It was in neat alignment they have to sit down and do
benches in classrooms and an lege of Arts handled the mes of Child rights” is bang oppo sages”. with issues regularly faced in some painting and present
unhappy domestic scene. The sageladen paintings. site the central square which Other young painters from the community. He also noted their understanding of chil
images are a grim reminder of “We researched the local is overlooked by massive the community were at the that the police boys and girls dren's rights in a postpan
existing realities in Kannagi paintings that define facades. wall serving as role models to club places equal emphasis demic world. Through this ex
Nagar. Child marriage, sub AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA They had been painted as part her. It would be untruth to say on studies and sports as a ercise, one can address the
stance abuse and school dro of the Kannagi Nagar art dis she was painting with then twopronged exercise to em parents’ perception about
pouts. We are asking parents trict project. shoulder to shoulder. At this power these children. these issues,” says Sugata Roy
Though underplayed, the to be children on Global juncture, she has to only up to from Unicef. “A lot has
verbal component bullishly Children’s Day and like Role models them in a literal as well as a fig Being inclusive changed due to the pandemic,
decried these realities. They At the Wall of Child Rights, K urative sense. J Jasmine and R At the Wall of Child Rights, and children have missed out
had to stop — and this mes
children, they have to Hashika paints sunflowers. Karthikeyan are pursuing se another set of children were on regular education and how
sage was aimed at the parents sit down and do some Doublemasked with the ear cond year Bcom at different wielding paint brushes. From they are going to cope with
as well as the children. The painting and present loops of a surgical mask criss colleges, and as residents of an international school, their this situation remains to be
parents would also participate crossed for added protection, Kannagi Nagar, they are an in worldview is likely hugely out seen. It is also necessary to ad
their understanding of
in the transformativeart pro she enters into a debate about spiration to the younger lot. of sync with the one held by dress the possibilities of ex
ject. More about that later. children's rights in a her age with an InkLink vo Both Jasmine and Karthikeyan the Kannagi Nagar children. ploitation and neglect of chil
Kaustav Sengupta, founder post-pandemic world lunteer. She insists she is eight were part of InkLink’s art em The exercise was an attempt dren, postpandemic.”
6 CONSERVATION CHENNAI DOWNTOWN

This is the first

sighting of this
species in Tamil
Nadu; and there
Korean
are only a few
other sightings
from other parts
flycatcher
of India
seen at
Nanmangalam
PRINCE FREDERICK Yellow-rumped flycatcher at
|| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Nanmangalam forest.
PHOTO: LEO VINO
D
o not judge a life by its
beginnings; nor a day
by its dawn. If ever A perspective
Jithesh Babu became a life
coach, he could own that line
as he has a captivating illus
tration to magnify it.
forest from the
past and also
Jithesh has seen days
made just for birding. The the present
17th of November 2021 did
B
not seem designed in that irds — the long-distance
mould. For Jithesh, it broke migrants— get their routes
uneventfully over Nanman amazingly right. They
galam. IMD had issued a red usually do. Otherwise, their vagran-
alert for Chennai over an cy — when they veer off course, so-
emerging weather system metimes ending up in the unlikeliest
and that also added to how of places — would not make hea-
the birder perceived the day. dlines.
Jithesh lives nextdoor to While discussing the recent
the Nanmangalam reserve sighting of the yellow-rumped fly-
forest and he birds from out catcher at the Nanmangalam forest
side the forest watching its in Chennai, ornithologist V Santha-
peripheries. He does it with ram briefly drew attention to the re-
the regularity of any dyedin cent excitement over an Eurasian
thewool ritualist. blackup’s unusual winter plans, for
“I had finished my night added context and some contrast.
shift only around 5.30 a.m By showing up in Munnar, this war-
and when I headed to one of bler was incredibly out of range.
the peripheries, there was a It is associated with Europe,
lacklustre air about it,” re Western Asia and Africa. And this
calls Jithesh who currently Eurasian blackcap sighting is the
works remotely for a logistics first record for India.
company. The yellow-rumped flycatcher’s
Lacklustre days usually case has a strikingly different shade
tend to grow greyer and Jith to it, as it is not the first time the
esh had given up on this one, bird is “wandering off” to India.
around 6.30 a.m., and that The ornithologist notes that
was when it sprang a surprise though the sightings are considera-
on him, the biggest he has bly few and far between, the fact re-
had as a birder till date. A fe mains that for the last few years,
male yellowrumped fly there have been sightings of the
catcher (Ficedula zanthopy- bird, which include one or two re-
gia) was out there on the A yellow-rumped flycatcher was sighted on the periphery of the Nanmangalam forest on November 17, 2021. PHOTO: JITHESH BABU cords from Kerala. Though there is
lower branches of a tree. still nothing that could be said as-
The female of the species The yellowrumped flycatch dan highlights a few ob to normality, which includes especially when termites are sertively about the yellow-rumped
is marked by olivegrey, a er (Ficedula zanthopygia) is served behaviours, one of actively feeding. This bird emerging; flycatchers may flycatcher’s occasional vacations in
white wingbar and the diag essentially a bird of east Asia them being the bird’s tenden was not showing any signs of pick them up from the India, Santharam brings a particular
nostic yellow rump. with known residential cy to avoid the upper reaches distress,” notes Gnanaskan ground,” explains Gnanas perspective to that question by pull-
In addition to the yellow breeding properties in east of a tree and stay low. It is in dan. “It must have definitely kandan. ing a leaf out of the past.
rump, the male’s underparts ern china, Korea and Japan. alignment with available lit come with the last depres “The yellowrumped fly “In 1985 when I first saw the
are doused in a bright yellow. One of the monikers for Fi- erature about the bird. sion(November 11), if my in catcher even consumes ber ashy minivet in Chennai, there were
The male’s thick supercilium cedula zanthopygia — Korean “I also wanted to ascertain tuition is right.” Between ries, juicy berries. It is not on only two earlier records, one from
and wingbar are thrown into flycatcher — has stuck. Dur if the bird was feeding. Usual then and now, there has been a strict insect diet.” the Andamans and the other from
relief by its black upperparts. ing winter, it vacations in ly, birds that are windblown sufficient time for the bird to Leo notes how this infor near Pune. And then I just saw it and
At first sight, he did not re southeast Asia. Sporadic will take two days to get back recover from the windy mal birding group from Nan then saw it repeatedly at Guindy Na-
cognise the bird. At second, sightings in south India dur flight. mangalamSembakkam sys tional Park and I reported it in Black-
third and fourth sight, he had ing winter seem to be noth As they joined Jithesh, Leo tematically keeps records of buck (the journal of the Madras Nat-
made no progress. He could ing more than vagrancy. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Vino and Kumarasean Chan the birds sighted around the uralists’ society) and the journal of
have looked at the bird end “Some of the birds would Usually, birds that drabose, birders from the patch, returning to field The Bombay Natural History Society.
lessly and still the mystery wander around, coming as same region, also sighted the notes from past seasons for It is also possible that some species
would have been intact, un far as the Andamans. There is are windblown will yellowrumped flycatcher. clarity and patterns. are there, but not noticed but when
breakably encased in tung a good chunk of records from take two days to get Leo Vino observes how the He discloses that on the someone has read about it and they
sten. There had to be help the Andamans. For Tamil Na back to normality, flycatcher picked up someth morning of November 17, look out for it and they find it.
from all around in identifying du, this is the first record, but ing from the ground — likely they were hoping to sight the Some of these come in such
the bird, which he received we have a few records from
which includes an insect — and returned to Chestnutwinged cuckoo small numbers that you will have to
promptly. Kerala and Karnataka,” re actively feeding. its perch to feed on it. As fly (CWC) which is making this be at the right place at the right
For, the bird is way outside marks eBird reviewer Gna This bird was not catchers predominately trap patch its pitstop. They CWC time to notice them. Or else you will
the checklist for the region — naskandan Keshavabharathi. their prey on the wing, this stood them up, but this day miss them.”
CH-AD _ A
showing any signs of

it is far out from Chennai by From what Jithesh had behaviour stood out for him. was not made for disappoint
at least 5,000 kilometres. shared with him, Gnanaskan distress “Sometimes that happens, ments.
CH-AD _ A
DOWNTOWN
CHENNAI
ACROSS THE SPECTRUM 7

Special camps for Shastri Nagar road

revisions in voters list riddled with potholes
Shastri Nagar Ninth Lane was milled last month and
E
lection Commission of India will be conducting special camps for
revision of photo electoral rolls till May 5, 2022.
According to a press release from the State Information & Public the milled portions enable water stagnation, say
Relations Department, the camps are meant for inclusion and deletion
of names and correction in names and addresses.
residents
It will be held in the respective polling booths of Zones 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 T.S. ATUL SWAMINATHAN
and 13 of the Greater Chennai Corporation. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
F
ollowing the recent rains,
Shastri Nagar Ninth Lane in
Adyar is riddled with poth-
oles, especially near its intersec-
Ramapuram resident rescues tion with Lattice Bridge Road. Mo-
torcyclists ride zigzag to avoid
puppies from garbage bin these potholes. Due to the condi-

tion of the road, vehicles are dam-
aged.
Residents complain that the of-
I
n addition to the 20 stray
dogs she feeds every day, fice of Zone 13 Adyar of the Greater
Bhuvana Shankar fed Chennai Corporation had taken up Shastri Nagar Ninth Lane in Adyar. PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
seven new puppies on the work at the wrong time.

November 17. They were According to residents, the road the milled portion of the road has
rescued from a garbage bin was scrapped in October. “The water stagnation, which means the
in Rukmani Street in large potholes cause backache to potholes are not visible, and that
Ramapuram where motorists,” says J. Mariappan, a sometimes results in road-users
Bhuvana resides. suffering a fall,” says TD Babu, a re-
passer-by on the road.
“At 12.30 p.m., the sident.
conservancy worker who “Following the heavy showers,
was about to clear the bin
noticed these puppies and
informed me. We brought
them home, fed them milk ‘Flaws in SWDs cause
and handed them over to an Bhuvana Shankar and the other dogs now.
animal welfare
organisation,” says
rescued puppies.
PHOTOS: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
“Among the four is a dog
that we rescued during the
waterlogging’
Bhuvana. Chennai floods in 2015. Two
Ever since they moved to were adopted when their Water is unable to enter
Ramapuram from Cochin in owners were no longer in a
Kerala in 2014, Bhuvana has position to take care of Sembakkam lake, say Sri
been feeding stray dogs. them. The fourth one is a Sarvamangala Nagar A road in Sri
“We came with three stray dog which is always
dogs to Chennai. One with us,” adds Bhuvana. residents Sarvamangala
Nagar in
among them was a stray In the last two years,
T.S. ATUL SWAMINATHAN Chitlapakkam.
dog. There is a story behind Bhuvana took measures to | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PHOTO: SPECIAL
it. One fine morning back in get the stray dogs
ARRANGEMENT
Cochin, we found a litter of vaccinated against diseases. The stormwater drains (SWDs) at Sri Sarva
puppies in front of our “So far, 15 stray dogs have mangala Nagar in Chitlapakkam failed to de and First Lane.
house. We did not know Chennai, the puppies been vaccinated at Besant liver during the recent rains. The residents Illegal discharge of sewage into stormwater
how they came there. We alone were given in Memorial Animal understand that there are some flaws in the drains is another reason for inundation, say
were tending to the adoption and the Dispensary. Here, I would SWD network and hence they want the Chit residents.
puppies. That night, the remaining came with us. like to suggest that the lapakkam Selection Grade Town Panchayat to Yet another issue that needs to be ad
mother dog came in search Now the mother dog Greater Chennai correct them. dressed is the unevenness of the roads at the
of her puppies. She and her alone is with us. The Corporation should Water from the SWDs at the intersection of intersection.
young ones continued to other two are no more,” conduct animal birth First Main Road and First Lane is unable to “First Main Road and First Lane are not at
live with us along with our says Bhuvana. control and vaccination drain into Sembakkam lake. Therefore, water the same levels. This also causes waterlogging
two pet dogs. When we Along with this mother drives for the stray dogs in a flows in the reverse direction and enters the at the intersection,” says M. Ravi, secretary of
decided to move to dog, Bhuvana has four proper way,” says Bhuvana. drain in the First Lane. During heavy show the Sri Sarvamangala Nagar Residents’ Wel
ers, this causes flooding on First Main Road fare Association.
Competitions held Air India - Chennai

observes Vigilance
Awareness Week
In commemoration of
Vigilance Awareness Week,
which is observed from
October 26 to November 1,
the Vigilance Department of
Air India Chennai “Independent India@75:Self painting competition, an
organised various Reliance With Integrity.” intercollege debate
programmes. According to a press competition, and quiz and
As per the directive of the release, employees of Air rangoli competitions for
Central Vigilance India Chennai took the employees and their
Commission, the events “integrity pledge.” A children were conducted,
were based on the theme walkathon, an interschool adds the press release.
8 READERS WRITE
CHENNAI

DOWNTOWN
Medavakkam road Monsoon woes in

cries for attention Virugambakkam
P G SIVANATH DEEPA MAKESH
|| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
C
ome monsoon, Vem
V
adakkupattu Main Road in Me buli Ammam Koil
davakkam which connects Ve Street in Virugam
lachery Main Road and Meda bakkam turns into a night
vakkam Main Road is damaged mare. Water stagnation,
condition. The road is uneven with sewage overflow and
protruding stones. Following the re stench become the hall
cent downpour, the road has become mark of the locality every
worse with many potholes. Water stag time there is a heavy
nation along this stretch is kneedeep. downpour. This betrays
On many occasions motorists and ped the flaws in stormwater Vembuli Ammam Koil Street in Virugambakkam.
estrians had fallen and escaped mirac drainage. PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
ulously. Lack of proper street lights Everyday life is thrown outbreak of waterborne woes continue. It is request
and cattle menace are other safety is out of gear. Pedestrians diseases. Many a time, resi ed that the authorities con
sues of the road. I request, the author have to wade through dent welfare associations cerned do the needful and
ities concerned to do the needful. kneedeep water. The un have taken up this issue provide a lasting solution.
P G Sivanath is a resident of hygienic surroundings in with the Greater Chennai Deepa Makesh is resident
Medavakkam Vadakkupattu Main Road in Medavakkam. crease the chance of the Corporation. However, the of Virugambakkam
PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
TEAM WORK
‘Dent on Thyagaraya
Road in need of repair’
N. RAVIKKUMAAR it as it was dark. My bike
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
tyre slipped into it and I
lost balance. By God’s
O
n November 18 grace, I did not fall. Here,
around 6.45 I would like to emphasise
p.m., I was that the dent is a
driving on my dangerous one. I wonder
motorcycle on why the Greater Chennai
Thyagaraya Road (Pondy Corporation has not
Bazaar) in T. Nagar. Near attended to it.
Holy Angels school, N. Ravikkumaar is a
there was a dent on the resident of
Workers from Karur cleaning P. T. Rajan Salai in K K. Nagar. road and I did not notice Nungambakkam Thyagaraya Road in T. Nagar. PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
PHOTO: VEDHAN M
You can be ‘Road in school

our volunteer- ‘Parking lot on Meenambakkam
writer CMRL station inadequate’ zone in bad shape’
Dear readers, you can be R V BASKARAN
our volunteerwriter by S GHOSH | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
writing to us about issues | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
and events in your neigh
R
ajiv Gandhi Street in
T
he parking space at Meenambakkam CMRL
bourhood. You should station is not sufficient. Therefore, commu Gandhi Nagar in Ma
send the writeups to ters have no other option but to park their dambakkam is full of
downtown feedback@ twowheelers in areas not meant for parking. potholes. It is one of the ap Rajiv Gandhi Street in Gandhi
thehindu.co.in. Letters Authorities concerned are requested to address proach roads to a school. Nagar in Madambakkam.
must carry the postal ad this issue. One suggestion is to explore the possi Hence, it ought to be well PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
dress and contact num bility of making use of the vacant land of the adja maintained. But the road is

ber. Here’s a short note on The parking lot at Meenambakkam cent Airports Authority Residential Colony on in a bad shape. Therefore, tion does the needful.
the basic building blocks CMRL station. lease or in a revenue sharing method. it is requested that the R V Baskaran is a
of any short news feature. PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT S Ghosh is resident of Puzhuthivakkam Greater Chennai Corpora resident of Selaiyur
a) The lead is the first
section of an article, and
leads that narrate a hu
stones. Though, the State
man situation work the
best.
b) The next element is
Battered road at Highways Department has done
a patchwork by laying debris, it
the cosmic paragraph, in
which you give the overall intersection in Guindy didn’t last in the recent rains.
The spot near the intersection
has become accidentprone,
picture.
T
c) The articles have to JOTHILAKSHMI P. he road at the the especially for twowheeler
ARUMUGAM intersection of Anna riders. The intersection
be factually wellground
ed and the central por
|| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salai and Sardar Patel witnesses heavy traffic. Hence,
tion, which will consist of Intersection of Anna Road in Guindy put the State Highways Department
a few paragraphs, should Salai and Sardar Patel motorists at risk. That is requested to attend to it at
Road. portion of the road is the earliest.
CH-AD _ A
support the anecdotal pa
ragraph and the cosmic
PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT uneven due to protrusion of Jothilakshmi P. Arumugam
paragraph. is a resident of Guindy.

Toilets Matter As Much As Classrooms: An IT Engineer Makes Time For Snakes

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Toilets Matter As Much As Classrooms: An IT Engineer Makes Time For Snakes

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Sunday, November 21, 2021

An IT engineer makes time for snakes

2 PEOPLE CHENNAI DOWNTOWN

Nurses take the Groups Volunteers

A fish rush in IT heartland

Is this the monsoonal

PRINCE FREDERICK lake was skewed much like up an inland, freshwater

Toilet As Greater Chennai Corporation

taining these toilets under a so launching an App that

Painting messages into their hearts

6 CONSERVATION CHENNAI DOWNTOWN

This is the first

showing any signs of

ACROSS THE SPECTRUM 7

Special camps for Shastri Nagar road

puppies from garbage bin these potholes. Due to the condi-

seven new puppies on the work at the wrong time.

Competitions held Air India - Chennai

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2021

Medavakkam road Monsoon woes in

You can be ‘Road in school

dress and contact num­ bility of making use of the vacant land of the adja­ maintained. But the road is

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dress and contact num bility of making use of the vacant land of the adja maintained. But the road is