Good morning, Chennai!
🌤️ Today’s weather: High: 36 ℃ | Low: 27 ℃ | Mostly sunny for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The first village to be added to Chennai was Triplicane. It was obtained from the Sultan of Golkonda in 1676.
🛠️ Repair, don’t discard
The repair cafe movement has become popular, where people are taught to repair everyday items.
What’s it about? In several countries, repair cafes are community spaces where people come together to repair items like clothes, furniture, bicycles, and electrical appliances. Chennai has had two successful repair cafe workshops where kids were taught to fix toys, bikes, and electronics.
- Meena, the driving force behind the Repair Cafe initiative in Chennai, came across Tinker Kinder, a programme on home maintenance for kids. It inspired her to introduce this concept in Chennai with in-person workshops with Repair Cafe Bangalore founder Purna Sarkar.
- The first Chennai Repair Cafe took place on June 30. The second workshop was on October 20, coinciding with International Repair Day. There were three stations. One each for electronics, clothes, and bicycles.
Skills, community and sustainability: The workshops help kids learn new hands-on skills and problem-solving abilities. It also provides them with a community and showcases the importance of sustainability and better care for their belongings.
🎗️ Awareness of breast cancer
Cyclists and walkers geared up for an event to shine a spotlight on breast cancer.
What’s it about? Runners and riders wore pink caps, tracks, shoes and pinned pink ribbons on their t-shirts as they prepared for the 3.5 km walk to raise awareness about breast cancer. The participants held banners that read “A sister, a friend, a mother, an aunt. A hope that starts with me.”
- The ‘One Walk One Hope’ event was organised by CAN STOP in partnership with Rotary District 3234. The message was clear – early detection, prevention, and self-examination.
- Dr Vijaya Bharathi Rangaraja, the founder of CAN-STOP, said the goal is to instil information and facts that give women the power to decide what needs to be done.
Remove the fear: The understandable fear associated with the disease can be removed with the right information and treatment.
⚕️ Institute of Mental Health’s operation
The government’s decision to transfer the Institute of Mental Health’s operations to a non-profit, government-owned entity has drawn mixed reactions.
What’s it about? The state health department has decided to transfer the Institute of Mental Health’s operations to a non-profit, government-owned company from the current direct management of the government. The decision was made to improve its facilities for the inpatients.
- State Health Secretary Supriya Sahu said, given the current organisation’s set-up, fund allocation and utilisation, and vacancies, the Institute can’t evolve, and reforms can’t be implemented.
- Some were displeased with the decision. Commercialisation would prevent people from low socio-economic backgrounds from benefitting from the services.
Caution: While the move could improve infrastructure and public service, the state health department could manage the administration and regulatory roles.
🛍️ Diwali sales slump
Retailers are concerned about lower sales this Diwali due to multiple factors.
What’s it about? The last Sunday before Diwali didn’t have the usual crowd in places like Sowcarpet, a popular shopping destination. Higher prices of items ranging from clothing to sweets have kept many people away.
- At NSC Bose Road, cracker prices have increased by 5-15% due to a drop in production. Their manufacturing has been affected by restrictions placed on the necessary raw materials.
- Items like sweets, clothes, and household goods have seen price increases. Retailers and shopkeepers have blamed higher GSTs. Some retailers believe since Diwali is at the end of the month, many people might not have received their salaries and bonuses.
Access: In some places like T Nagar, the ongoing metro construction has affected retail in the area. Narrow streets become crowded and cumbersome for shoppers.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Did you participate in sports competitions in school?
- I participated in sports competitions in school.
- I didn’t participate in sports competitions in school.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Which fictional universe would you want to live in?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- A 50-acre urban jungle will soon be a much-needed lung space for Siruseri.
- Asian College of Journalism in Chennai hosted a panel on Women Shaping Journalism.
- Veranda IAS has signed an MoU with MOP Vaishnav College for Women for a Diploma in Governance and Policy Studies.
- Renault Nissan has achieved the milestone of producing over 4.5 million powertrain units at its Chennai plant.
- OHM Global Mobility, a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland, has secured an order of 500 low-floor electric buses from the MTC.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I would try a digital detox for a full week: 66.7% 🏆
- I wouldn’t try a digital detox for a full week: 33.3%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s your favourite sweet/delicacy to eat for Diwali?
Suchi: “Jalebi, Jangiri”
Preethi: “Rava Ladoo”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!