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T.N.s diabetes registry enrols over 5,000 children, specialised care centres being expanded
Mans legs crushed as bus rams bike
TN received only 17% of funds sought over 10 years
My father is a child, those with him are venomous: Anbumani
Civil Aviation Ministry inspects 10 major airports after Indigo flight disruptions
NEW DELHI: Following widespread disruptions in Indigos flight operations, senior officers from the Civil Aviation Ministry began inspections at ten major airports across the country on Wednesday. The inspections, ordered by Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha, are expected to continue till Friday. The airports under review include Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Guwahati, Goa, and Thiruvananthapuram. Officers at the level of Deputy Secretary, Director, or Joint Secretary have been tasked with conducting a comprehensive assessment of on-ground operations. The inspections will cover flight delays and cancellations, airport congestion, queue management at check-in counters, security and boarding gates, status of information dissemination to passengers on delays and alternative arrangements. Officers will also review manpower availability for operational duties, staffing of airline help desks, and the provision of essential amenities such as drinking water. The Ministrys move comes as part of ongoing efforts to stabilise flight operations and ensure passenger convenience amid the recent operational crisis at Indigo.
I-T sleuths search jewellery and energy firms in city
Anganwadi workers hold stir for menstrual leave, pay hike
DICV plans a new design studio; aims higher than industry growth in 2025
Airport multiplex to continue ops until Centre takes a call
Chennai intl book fair to be open to public for first time
Poisoning, poaching, electrocution ruled out in jumbo deaths
Woman, gang stage road accident to rob man of money, gold
Robbery suspect escapes police custody and is arrested after manhunt
Flight disruptions continue for 9th day
Man in car mows down cop in Chennai, calls police next morning to turn himself in
Online and print: JioHotstar to invest Rs 4000 cr in the southern market
Disappointing that the Governor did not approve Siddha University Bill: Ma. Subramanian
R.N. Ravi had instead forwarded it to the President after keeping it pending since October 15, the Health Minister says
Annamalai meets OPS, TTV triggering political buzz
Charuhasan: 95 Years of Learning, Acting, and Legal Acumen
At 95, Charuhasan, a lawyer and actor, views himself as a perpetual learner, drawing inspiration from figures like Periyar and Gandhi. Despite a late entry into cinema in his mid-50s, he found his calling, influenced by directors like Mahendran and Alfred Hitchcock, and continues to embrace new experiences.
Irular Women's Folk Band: Preserving Culture and Raising Awareness Through Song
Irular women, initially learning literacy and social issues, formed the Dhol Kattai Irular Kalai Kuzhu folk band in Chengalpet. Singing traditional songs and weaving in vital information about government schemes and rights, they now prepare for their first Chennai performance, highlighting the growing recognition of tribal folk music alongside classical forms.
Residents struggle set to transform dumpsite into modern sports facility in Otteri
After Chief Minister M.K. Stalin laid thefoundation stone this week, residents have requested the GCC officials to expedite the project and ensure that all youth from the locality have access to the facility for free training
Vani Kala Sudhakara awards conferred on five eminent artistes
The 46th Isai, Iyal, Nataka Vizha and the 36th Bharatham festival was inaugurated by Swami Satyajnanandaji Maharaj, Adhyaksha, Ramakrishna Mutt, on Tuesday
Unorganised sector workers to stage demonstration seeking withdrawal of labour codes
Mind-boggling diversity is Indias first obvious speciality: RSS chief MohanBhagwat
Despite all diversities, we have been living as one Rashtra for eons. The very identity of our Rashtra encompasses all diversities, he says at an event in Chennai to mark the RSS centenary celebrations
Vijay is set to become Tamil Nadu chief minister; party can form govt in Puducherry too: Bussy Anand
TVK general secretary (election campaign management) Aadhav Arjuna challenged Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin to face the TVK in the election if he has courage. He asked Stalin not to try to block the partys campaigns by imposing several hurdles.
Justice M. Dhandapani permits PVR INOX to continue operating the five-screen multiplex at Chennai airport until the Centre takes a call on the matter
Cancer Institute gets VR, AI platform for pain rehabilitation
The equipment uses headsets, and sometimes game controllers, to immerse patients in calming or educational environments, reducing pain, anxiety, and nausea during chemotherapy and improving understanding of treatments such as radiation therapy
Isha Foundation Launches Free Cremation Service In Tamil Nadu For Poor Families
Isha Foundation launches free cremation service for BPL families in Tamil Nadu, managing 17 crematoriums including in Chennai, Vellore, Thanjavur, and Coimbatore district.
Amid IndiGo crisis, govt takes BIG action, asks airline to...
The stringent government order comes as the budget airline faces its worst operational crisis in its near 20-year history. On Tuesday, IndiGo cancelled more than 400 flights, with airports serving Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai being the worst hit. Here are more details.
History-sheeter who escaped from custody arrested in Madipakkam
He had been detained on Monday in connection with a robbery case
Webinar on MBA beyond ac to be held on December 13
The session will offer students a comprehensive understanding of the MBA journey, providing insights into real-world learning, industry exposure, leadership development, and the experiences that shape future-ready professionals
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers claims airline's operations are now stable
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers stated in a video message that the airlines operations are now stable following a wave of disruptions. The airline has faced over 400 cancellations nationwide, affecting major airports including Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai, though airport authorities confirmed that passengers are being assisted and there are no terminal or airside issues.
Where to get handcrafted 2026 calendars by Indie creators
Our top picks include calendars inspired by Chennais iconic food spots, an evergreen one that grows with you, and one dedicated to furry felines
In T.N., dengue caseload is high, but doctors see fewer complications, deaths
Kutty Kutchery Festival 2025: What to expect at this unique Chennai Margazhi experience
All about this 10-day celebration of Carnatic music, dance and folk arts in Chennai
Traffic constable killed by speeding car in Pallikaranai; driver arrested
The constable was on night patrol duty on the Pallavaram Thoraipakkam Radial Road when he spotted a speeding car; he chased the car on his motorcycle, but the driver allegedly knocked him down and sped off.
Padayappa returns after 25 years: Why Rajinikanth kept this Tamil blockbuster elusive
On Rajinikanths birthday (December 12), fans will be able to re-watch the popular Padayappa that was written and produced by the actor himself
Brakes India acquires 10% stake in Japans TBK
IndiGo cancels nearly 500 flights today; govt to cut routes
IndiGo cancelled nearly 500 flights on Tuesday, extending disruptions at the airline for the eighth straight day, sources said. Bengaluru and Delhi saw even larger disruptions. 121 cancellations were reported from Bengaluru, including 58 arrivals and 63 departures. 152 flights were cancelled from Delhi. At Hyderabad Airport, 58 flights were cancelled, 14 arrivals and 44 departures. At least 81 flights were cancelled from Chennai, 31 from Mumbai, 26 from Lucknow and 16 from Ahmedabad. The ongoing crisis may also cost IndiGo several routes in the current winter schedule. Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu said the government will definitely cut the airlines slot allocation as a penalty. We will issue an order to reduce some routes from IndiGos winter schedule. These will be reassigned to other carriers and returned to IndiGo only when it demonstrates the capability to operate them, Naidu told DD news. IndiGo operates more than 2,200 daily flights across 90 domestic and over 40 international destinations. On Monday alone, it cancelled more than 560 flights across six major metro airports as operational issues continued to escalate. Government will take strict action: Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Indigo crisis
Indigos flight cancellations at Chennai airport ease up
Chennai Airport in the morning said that 18 departures and 23 arrivals of Indigo flights have been cancelled for the day; compared to 38 departures and 33 arrival cancellations on Monday
When musicians and dancers walk the ramp for Margazhi
The December winds carry with them the scent of mild flowers, comfort, and festivities. With it comes distinct sounds of musical instruments, songs, and jingles in the Tamil month of Margazhi . At Radisson Blu Hotel & Suites GRT Chennai, it unfolds as a story; one stitched with Kancheepuram borders, GRT jewels, filter coffee scent trails, kolam -patterned carpets, and the hum of music at the Marvellous Margazhi: Celebration Culture on the Ramp. To be held in the Royal Ballroom and The Royal Mile of the hotel today, the evening is curated by the hotel and Lakshmi and Saraswathi of Event Art. For CEO Vikram Cotah, this third edition is a continuation of the old Madras nostalgia that shapes every corner of the property. For Radisson Blu GRT Chennai, the core story is a celebration of the old Madras. Everywhere you go in the premises, its a celebration of the old Madras. Hence, Marvellous Margazhi doesnt feel like an add-on. It fits very aptly into this entire story, he adds. For Lakshmi-Saraswati, this is an exercise of reframing, not altering, how musicians are seen. Marvellous Margazhi gave a unique opportunity to present artistes in a new light and their aesthetics and sensibilities. It is like a breakaway time for them and the backstage is like a class reunion. The show has only climbed in stature with iconic singers wanting to be part of this. This time Shankar Mahadevan is also going to be part of it, says Vikram. The line-up spans generations. From the oldest living performer who still travels and performs across the country to the youngest sensations are brought together, note Lakshmi-Saraswati. This year, musicians and vocalists including Aruna Sairam, Sudha Raghunathan, Hariharan, Stephen Devassy, Nithyasree Mahadevan, Vandhana Srinivasan, dancers including Padma Subrahmanyam, Laasya Narasimhachari with her sister and mother, Laavanya and Vasanthalakshmi Narasimhachari, and spiritual and cultural presenter Dushyant Sridhar will walk the ramp. The events idea is not to stage a fashion show, but to reveal the artistes as they truly are. The costumes are handpicked in association with Snehalayaa, keeping each ones aesthetics and sensibilities alive. The idea is not for fashion to overshadow the art. They are presented as who they are; in fact, the best of who they are, they say. The duo is candid about the necessity of reinvention. Art needs to be constantly reinvented. There is a thin line between keeping in touch with the roots but also reinventing for the fresher and newer audience whose attention span is getting shorter by the day, they say. Hence, they are bringing a ramp walk blending the modern and traditions. After planning for three months, the organisers have put together an intimate and immersive experience for which the space plays a significant role. With artificial skylight at the ballroom, it feels like the walk is happening outdoors. It is like the early mornings during Margazhi , says Vikram. The event includes stalls with kolam , filter coffee and this years addition, Sabha cuisine. The hotel has recreated not just that sabha canteen classics but also brought in Moplah cuisine, Guntur recipes, and Udupi staples. Marvellous Margazhi: Celebrating Culture on the Ramp will be held today at Radisson Blu Hotel & Suites GRT Chennai.
State can inquire into mishandling of funds in private temples, rules Madras HC
CHENNAI: A division bench of the Madras High Court has held that the state can intervene if there is maladministration or misappropriation of funds in temples managed by private persons because such temples become public institutions if donations from the public are received. A bench of justices S M Subramaniam and P Dhanabal gave the ruling recently while disposing of an appeal filed against a single judges order dated November 30, 2022, on proper management of the Vembiamman Temple at Gingee in Villupuram district. However, the state cannot intervene in the religious affairs of rituals and customs of such temples, the division bench said. The dispute in managing the affairs of the temple arose between managing trustee R Thennarasu and another person, R Thirumurugan. When Thennarasu found no action was taken against Thirumurugan based on a representation he submitted to the district, he filed a writ petition in the high court in 2022. The court ordered the latter not to interfere with the affairs of the temple, besides directing the HR&CE department to look into the issue of rights over the temple. Challenging this order, Thirumurugan filed the appeal questioning the single judges orders and the powers of HR&CE department. The division bench explained that Section 6(20) of HR&CE Act defines temple as a place, by whatever designation known, of public religious worship and dedicated to, or for the benefit of, or used as of right by, the Hindu community or of any section thereof. The facts of the present case are that the temple is admittedly constructed in a grama-natham land and the land belongs to villagers. In other words, it is a common public land. It is further not in dispute that whole villagers are worshipping deities in temples and contributing for conduct of poojas, festivals, functions, etc, it noted. When public contributions/donations have been accepted, the temple assumes the character of a public institution. If public contributions are involved, the state can intervene in case of maladministration or misappropriation of funds, following the procedure as outlined in the Act and Rules, and take necessary actions. Right to administer the temple would not include maladministration, the bench said in the order. However, it added the department has no power to interfere with the religious practices or performance of poojas in the temple, which is to be done as per the custom and practice prevailing among the villagers and adopted in the temple.
Greater Chennai Corporation turns to nature for restoration of lakes, ponds
CHENNAI: As part of its ongoing efforts to restore ponds and lakes across the city, the Greater Chennai Corporation has now turned to the Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) approach in at least two places the Kadapakkam lake and the Sadayakuppam lake. While the work is almost complete in Kadapakkam, the same approach will now be used in Sadayankuppam. The NbS, prioritises eco-restoration by relying on natural methods and avoiding concrete structures while enhancing the well-being of the local community. It also ensures the local communitys rights are not disturbed, a senior corporation official said. Sadayankuppam in Manali New Town often gets flooded, especially when the Poondi and Puzhal reservoirs are opened during the monsoons. A detailed project report is now being prepared for restorating the lake through NbS approach at an estimated cost of Rs 33 crore. The lakes inlet is located in the northern part, and its surplus water flows out on the eastern side, about 400m away, into the Kosasthalaiyar river. Speaking to TNIE, a corporation official said the project involves the construction of sedimentation pond at lake inlet, to protect the water quality and depth of the water body. This helps the sediment-laden soil settle in the inlet before the runoff is discharged. The project also includes improvement of water channel, desilting and dredging of lake, construction of protective bund, creation of bird island using green materials, afforestation, walking track, introduction of indigenous freshwater fishes and aquatic plants, provision of recreational facilities and landscaping, enhancement of the flood-storage capacity and thus the preservation and restoration of the lakes catchment as green flood-mitigation infrastructure. The project mirrors GCCs approach in Kadapakkam in Manali, which began in August 2024 and is expected to be over by February 2026. The project has been carried out at a cost of Rs 58.33 crore, funded by Asian Development Bank and Global Environment Facility. An official involved in the project said while ADB is also funding grey infrastructure for construction of stormwater drains under integrated urban flood management for Chennai, this green infrastructure helps to cut costs and supports to maintain natural ecosystem. Earlier, the lake remained neglected, filled with invasive species, reducing its water-holding capacity with just 1.19 million cubic metres. However, following the restoration, the lake which has a spread of 134.89 acres and a catchment area of 13.4 sq.km, now has an increased water-holding capacity of 1.90 mcm, an increase of around 70%. With eight waterbodies connected to the lake, the restoration helps retain a larger volume of water, reducing the risk of flooding in nearby areas. While usually lakes have steep slopes requiring stone pitching for bund strengthening, here, about 7.2 lakh cubic metres of silt removed during restoration has been used to strengthen the bunds. Landscaping work is also underway, using a combination of increased public green space, and paver blocks (2 km) to create a walking track. Bio-fencing has been done using tree branches. Two biodiversity islands are planned. The lake will act as both flood-mitigation and drought-mitigation system for the region, which is surrounded by extensive banana cultivation. During summer, farmers can use the stored water for irrigation, and enhanced storage will improve groundwater recharge, supporting agricultural activities and providing recreational space for local community, the official said. It further includes installation of sluice gates, creating seating areas, childrens play zone, outdoor turf, dedicated spaces for butterfly and dragonfly diversity, a pollinator garden, and learning spaces. The toilets are also built using recycled bricks made of fly ash. Kadapakkam lake Project cost: Rs 58.33 crore Started in August 2024 Expected completion by February 2026 Spread across: 134.89 acres Catchment area: 13.4 sqkm Current Storage Capacity: 1.2 million m Post-restoration Capacity: 1.9 million m Scope of work Removal of water hyacinth and terrestrial weed species Desilting & dredging of 7.2 lakh m of silt Strengthening and formation of bunds 3450 m Rehabilitation of inlets, outlets, sluice gates & surplus weirs Creation of bird island for an area of 5 acres & biodiversity habitats Formation of shallow ponds at inlet for reducing silt and improving water quality Dedicated space for Butterfly and dragonfly diversity 24 varieties of native tree species, including badam, poovarasu, vembu, and naval, are planted across an area of approximately 1 lakh sq.ft
Queues thin at Chennai International Airport; IndiGo cancels 71 flights
CHENNAI: After nearly a week of chaos, the thinning of queues outside IndiGo counters at Chennai International Airport, that began on Sunday, continued on Monday as well, and flight operations showed further signs of normalisation. Cancellations, however, still remained high. The airline cancelled 71 flights throughout the day - 38 departures and 33 arrivals. On Sunday, the airline had cancelled a total of 91 flights at Chennai airport, including 49 arrivals and 42 departures. Many passengers were seen enquiring whether their scheduled flights on Tuesday would operate or if they needed to seek refunds. For some, there was relief after IndiGo officials confirmed a few of the previously cancelled services would operate as scheduled. Abul Basan, an employee at Pullman Hotel in Chennai, told TNIE that he had visited the airport to check the status of his flight from Chennai to Kolkata, with a connecting service to Agartala. The IndiGo official at the counter told me the flight will operate as per schedule, he said. Inbound services linking Chennai with Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad were impacted. Delhi emerged as the worst-hit route, accounting for nearly half of the cancelled departures, followed by Kolkata, Bengaluru and Mumbai. Anchal, who had gone to Ahmedabad to attend a wedding, said she was relieved to get back to Chennai. I was struggling to get back and was finally able to fly back home on Monday, she added. Meanwhile, Indian Railways set up a help desk at Chennai International Airport to assist stranded passengers in booking train tickets. Railway officials said 15 passengers availed themselves of the service on Monday. Ashant Kumar and Abdurrahim, commercial and ticket clerks with Southern Railway, said the special counters had been functioning since Sunday. Twelve passengers were guided to book train tickets to destinations such as Bengaluru, Ranchi and Tatanagar. The railways has made provisions for special ticketing in select routes, including 3 AC, 2 AC and 1 AC coaches. On other routes, additional coaches have been earmarked for stranded passengers, they added. Railways helpdesk Indian Railways has set up a helpdesk at Chennai International Airport to assist stranded passengers in booking train tickets. Railway officials said 15 passengers availed themselves of the service on Monday
Nearly 300 sanitary workers protest outsourcing waste management in Chennai
CHENNAI: Nearly 300 sanitary workers affiliated with the Greater Chennai Corporation Red Flag Union staged a protest at the Ripon Building on Monday, opposing the outsourcing of solid waste management operations. They also demanded the GCC regularise the jobs of conservancy workers, workers involved in fogging, and those in Amma Unavagams. Meanwhile, the sanitary staff in Ambattur zone led by the Left Trade Union Centre, who staged protest against the corporations insistence to adhere to its rule on wearing uniforms entered its third day on Monday. Owing to the protest, the GCC deployed temporary workers from other zones for solid waste management in Ambattur. Speaking to TNIE, a worker said she was blocked and attacked by the protesters when she signed the attendance register. She filed a complaint at the Korattur police station and Ambattur zonal officer of GCC. However, after the incident, the corporation officials marked her absent for the day, she alleged.
On December 9, 2025, gold prices in India range from Rs 13,043 per 1 gram for 24K gold and Rs 11,956 per 1 gram for 22K gold. Silver is priced at Rs 1,90,900 per kilogram. Check city-wise rates here.
'Tis the season for some merry decors
Christmas is almost here, and the shift in the air is undeniable. All spaces are well-lit and decorated, and a holiday mood is settling in, with ovens filled with cookies being all-in-one experiences around this time of year. Lets dive in together and make our spaces merry and ready too! The tree: Less is almost always more This is an apparent one, yet many get this wrong. The two key points here are to intentionally add ornaments so the tree is not cluttered and actually visible, and to make it personal. From personalised ornaments to pictures, its your canvas, celebrating your family and loved ones. Add a tree skirt as the final touch to complete the look, and dont skimp on the lights. Tablescape Tablescapes have the most potential to add to the festivities, as they just require dcor to be juxtaposed aesthetically, playing with heights. From printed table runners to printed ceramic crockery, the options available are immense. The more economically right way to do this would be using old fabrics and laces from worn-out spreads to DIY your own table mats and coasters. Anything with checks or in the Christmas colours would make the table lively. Fairy lights in large glass vases as centrepieces work brilliantly too. Also, dont forget the festive food. Doors and more Some pieces of furniture hold tonnes of potential when it comes to adding festival vibes, starting with doors. Whether its your main door to set the mood before guests walk into the room. From bookshelves to basin counters, coffee tables to kitchen countertops, sprinkle the Christmas magic everywhere. You can also go the extra mile and deck up your washrooms using coloured napkins, scented candles, and decorated trays for the toiletries. Fragrance Christmas is absolutely incomplete without spaces smelling like it, and fragrances are the easiest way to get your space ready. Christmas fragrances range from cinnamon, clove and mandarin to freshly baked goodies. Stock up on tapered candles in vintage holders for statement table dcor. Light up scented candles throughout the space when not left unattended. Lights and fabrics Everything from reindeers to Santa are printed on fabrics available around this time of the year. Mix up sizes and shapes of cushions, and dont be scared to throw in a couple of prints for the maximalist feel. Luxe fabrics from velvet in deep reds paired with neutrals complete the premium look and feel. The fifth wall, which is the ceiling, can be adorned with a blanket of fairy lights while candles and light-up dcor peek from the other corners. There is no such thing as too many lights; add strips of lights on the bookshelf edges and even on the circumference of the table for the added shimmer. Think beyond the tree Why should the tree have all the fun? Bring the outdoors indoors with fresh greenery and seasonal berries. Hang a branch above your table with paper cutouts, and decorate stockings to add a nostalgic feel. Spread light-up dcor in every nook and corner of the space and use last years gift wrapping ribbon to suspend baubles, creating a focal point in your hosting space. All in all, while the homes and spaces are merry-filled, spend some time to actually spread smiles and enjoy the festivities with loved ones without stressing about having the perfectly decorated home. There is nothing merrier than a joy-filled space. Make your spaces glow while making sustainable choices so the planet gets to celebrate the festivities, too.
How climate, caste, digital divide are deepening north Chennai's inequality
In the charred remains of what was once his home in Udhayasuriyan Nagar, Vyasarpadi, a student sits cross-legged on blackened ground, hunched over a broken mobile phone. The screen flickers as he watches an educational video in Tamil on YouTube, his fingers leaving smudges on the cracked glass. Around him, the air still carries the suffocating smell of coal and ash, two months after the fire in May that reduced 24 houses to ruins. The device in his hands is more than a phone. It is his portal to knowledge, a necessity in today's era of schooling. But for one of his neighbours, even this fragile lifeline was consumed by the flames. Our phones got burnt. Without OTPs, we couldn't even access basic services, couldn't talk to officials or get school-related updates, recalls Ramarajan, a father of two whose children's education ground to a halt for almost a week after the fire. In the days that followed, as volunteers from Vyasai Thozhargal distributed food and documented losses, the absence of devices emerged as an invisible crisis within the visible catastrophe. The student's broken phone and Ramarajan's burnt device point to a larger pattern of erasure. In working-class Vyasarpadi home predominantly to the lowered caste disasters often repeat. Fire gives way to water, water to the next monsoon, each catastrophe wiping clean not only homes but the digital threads that now determine whether a child can attend school, whether a family can prove its existence to the state, whether survival itself is possible in a system that demands constant electronic proof of citizenship. Designed disasters? Historically, the highlands were occupied by wealthier, upper-caste people, even during the colonial city's expansion, explains Nityanand Jayaraman, a social activist. Marginalised communities live on the margins of the city, the rivers, the wetlands, the sea because no other land was available to them. When well-to-do people build on slightly lower land, they also elevate it. They create an island for themselves and push water to other places, Nityanand says. Vyasarpadi sits just 7-8 metres above sea level, trapped between the Buckingham Canal, Otteri canal, and Captain Cotton Canal. But the flooding isn't a natural disaster it's structured neglect. Sarath Kumar, a first-generation learner and advocate with Vyasai Thozhargal, puts it plainly, In Chennai, the village and colony are separate. North Chennai itself is like a 'colony' an unannounced, unacknowledged area where people from lowered communities live. This segregation exists. Future Amidst Flooding, a report released in November 2025 by the Youth Climate Resilience Movement, Vyasai Thozhargal, and the Chennai Climate Action Group notes that 68.9% of the area's population belongs to Scheduled Caste communities, the highest proportion in Chennai. When floods enter a poor person's house, the damage is completely different from flood water entering mine, adds Nityanand. Even if the monetary value of damage in my house is more, I can replace things, I have insurance. But for the poor, their motorcycle, their autorickshaw, their phone, everything needed for daily survival, gets damaged. In homes where the median monthly income sits at 12,000 roughly 3,000 per person a replacement smartphone is an added wreckage. Nityanand explains. Devices get lost, and replacing them becomes almost impossible. For breadwinners, phones are essential painters and carpenters run their business through their phones. Even a basic mobile phone costs 1,0502,000. Without it, they don't get daily bread. For Sarath, this panic has become a ritual. When floodwaters threaten, he has learnt to move with practiced urgency ferrying personal computers and phones to higher ground, sealing devices in plastic bags, stacking them in relief camps above the waterline. But even those who successfully rescue their devices face another trap. Future Amidst Flooding, notes that nearly a quarter of residents 23.3% lost critical documents to the floodwaters from the past few years: Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and certificates. In an increasingly digital bureaucracy that demands these documents to access relief schemes, their absence becomes its own disaster. The report even points how nearly every single resident surveyed 99.2% has watched floodwaters invade their homes, rising to an average of 3.4 feet inside. The disconnect The state's answer to this manufactured crisis has been digital disaster management apps, online helplines, SMS alerts. While officials tout modern warning systems, 68.3% of Vyasarpadi residents depend entirely on television for flood alerts a lifeline that snaps the moment power cuts begin, outages that residents report last up to 15 days. Only 2.5% receive SMS alerts. A mere 0.8% get information through social media. The digital emergency infrastructure might as well not exist: not a single person surveyed knew the Greater Chennai Corporation's emergency helpline number (1913). Zero residents could name the sewer overflow contact. Zero knew where community kitchens operated during floods revealing a dangerous irony: the government has built a digital safety net that the people it's meant to protect cannot reach. As researchers Dr Vishvaja Sambath and Prasanth J, along with young researchers from the community note in the report, this represents a severe breakdown in the communication chain. The most vulnerable are disconnected precisely when connection means survival The testimonies paint a picture of complete institutional abandonment. No one from the government came to check on us, and we survived five days without proper food, one woman told researchers. The nearby community hall, which could have been used as a shelter, was locked. It was only the local youngsters who broke the lock and opened it for us to stay. The myth of the digital native The assumption is that underlying schemes like Tamil Nadus laptop distribution programme which ran from 2011 to 2018 before being discontinued enables digital competence. It doesnt. The unavailability of strong Wi-Fi, data back-up, and access to digital skills are to be taken into account. Virgil D Sami, executive director of Arunodhaya, who has worked with marginalised communities since 2015, saw the same transformation. The laptop scheme was very helpful. When it stopped in 2018, it affected many children. I've seen students bring laptops for projects and learn to use them. Otherwise they have no access. But she quickly adds, But it must be supported by proper internet connectivity and awareness on how to use it. For first-generation learners, the convergence of climate disaster, digital divide, and institutional neglect creates what Sarath, a first generation learner, calls a rap. Career guidance is not available. They don't know what they want, what job they should go into, or how they can achieve their aim, he explains. Second, a very major one is the financial problem. Even if they go to college, they aren't aware of the realities. Suddenly, the atmosphere is new, it's challenging, and they can't adapt. By the time college finishes, being first-generation graduates, they are already tied to household responsibilities. For women particularly, the family situation is such that the father says, 'If you go to work, only then the family runs.' So even if they decide to pursue further, their aim gets blocked. That caveat points to the deeper problem. Joy, founder of the Ambedkar Reading Circle in Chennai, echoes this reality: Many young people don't know about opportunities. They don't know how to apply for scholarships. They don't have CVs, not even email IDs. Sometimes, I would sit with them and create email IDs, prepare their CVs. Digital literacy itself is a big gap. Joy himself faced this isolation and confesses to having no direction after college. I did not know about IIT or NIT. Virgil sees this pattern repeatedly, Children in government schools in underprivileged areas lack awareness of what is happening outside. They don't know career opportunities or how to apply to colleges. They go to e-service centres or internet cafs where they often get wrong guidance. Applications get rejected. She also describes how digital exposure arrived suddenly during COVID, without the infrastructure to support it properly, Digital exposure really came during COVID, when classes were online. Many children had no access to mobiles because of economic reasons and also gender. If there was one mobile at home, it was given to the boys. Girls told us they wouldn't get it even if the boy was younger and not using it for studies. Most live in one-room houses. Parents watch TV and tell the girls to go outside and study with the mobile. Nityanand advocates for a fundamental shift. What needs to be emphasised is inequality structural casteism. Any policy must address that. He connects this to broader systemic discrimination, The state cannot be discriminatory. It discriminates by not repairing, not investing, and not ensuring the safety of north Chennai the way it pays attention to places like Gopalapuram and RA Puram. Why have the backwaters in Ennore, polluted since the 1980s, not been cleaned up? But in Adyar, around MRC Nagar, things are cleaned and beautified the moment FSI is relaxed. The solutions require recognising community knowledge. We invite IIT to study flooding in Vyasarpadi, but when floods happen, local people know exactly what is blocking drainage. They go, use crowbars, break open a hole, and let the water out. Why is that knowledge not being used? Nityanand asks. What must change The 2015 floods left deep scars. Cyclone Michaung in 2023 created fresh wounds. Each disaster resets the clock, pushing students weeks or months behind, destroying devices that took months of savings to acquire, severing connections to scholarship deadlines and exam preparations that won't wait for flood waters to recede. The Future Amidst Flooding report offers concrete, community-led demands: early warning systems co-designed with residents using mobile alerts and loudspeakers; immediate clearing of fly ash choking the canals; economic safety nets with community-led price monitoring during disasters; documentation assistance centres for rapid replacement of lost identification cards; and crucially, letting community members who know which elderly residents need medicine, which pregnant women need urgent care help run relief operations. To bridge the gap of digital divide, on the other hand, Sarath envisions basic infrastructure, We need integrated learning spaces, like a library with digital access and equipment, a combined workspace. We need many such small, mini-formal centres in various places. There's no facility like free Wi-Fi in places like bus stands here. Virgil's demands are similarly grounded. She says, Schools should have access to digital technology computers, internet connectivity and teachers should be trained. Children must be given knowledge on how to use technology in a positive and productive way. Career guidance programmes should be effectively implemented. Schools in south Chennai are much better than those in the north. That kind of discrimination still exists. All schools should have equal access to infrastructure, quality education, qualified teachers, and proper teacherstudent ratios. Joy's vision is clear, I strongly feel that in another one or two generations, there should not be first-generation learners at all. This 'first-generation learners' category must end soon. We need to ensure education, employment, health, all of this, reaches everyone. Sarath's words provide hope. The village and the colony must become one. Only then can we say caste is gone. Caste must end. That is very important. Every aspect will then automatically change. Note: CE reached out to multiple government officials for a comment but did not recieve responses at the time of publishing. This story will be updated if and when they respond.
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Rohit Made Me Comfortable, Allowed Me To Be Free With Him And Express Myself, Says Shardul
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SC relaxes bail conditions of Senthil Balaji, says not needed to visit ED office twice per week
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