Good morning, Chennai!
🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 30 ℃ | Low: 25 ℃ | Cloudy with a chance of rain.
🧐 Did you know? The area Sowcarpet translates into English as the ‘Area of the rich’. It’s derived from the Hindi word ‘sahukar’ meaning money lender.
👚 Indo-French fashion comes to Chennai
Genes Lecoanet Hemant, from two Indo-French designers, opened its first store in Chennai.
What’s the history? Genes Lecoanet Hemant was founded by fashion designers Hemant Sagar and Didier Lecoanet. The ready-to-wear brand came to India in 2000 and opened the brand’s first store in Chennai recently.
- The inspiration for their fashion is rooted in Indian and French cultures. It’s a combination of Indian heritage and French craftsmanship.
- The duo believes Chennai’s fashion sensibilities align with the company’s ethos, ranging from alternative to traditional attire while respecting cultural traditions.
Sustainability: The company uses natural fibres and digital printing to minimise waste. They research the types of pigments used to ensure they’re eco-friendly.
🏖️ Life of a beach vendor
Vendors at Marina Beach continue to arrive daily in hopes of a better future.
What’s it about? For the many vendors of Marina Beach, making a decent earning is hard. Despite that, they continue to return every day for the love of the sea and a better future.
- The beach is filled with vendors who sell food, toys, and games for people to play. A toy seller has been at the beach for over a decade, earning enough to put his kids through school so they don’t struggle like he did.
- For some, it’s circumstance and a family business if one of their parents owns a stall. For some, despite the heat during the summer, the beach is the only place where there’s an opportunity to earn an income.
More than a beach: For the vendors, the beach isn’t just a place of work. It’s a way of life where they share, laugh, and find solace amidst the daily grind by offering small comforts to visitors.
😩 Tales of migrant struggle in Chennai
Chennai is home to many migrant kids and their families who come to the city for their livelihoods.
What’s it about? Kids and families come from other parts of the state and elsewhere, like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Delhi, to make Chennai their home. They’re migrants who brave the searing heat and unexpected rains to try and earn a living.
- Many kids buy small items from Parry’s Corner and sell them in crowded spaces like the beach. Those from low-caste communities have inherited the trade from their parents.
- In many cases, the parents make things like lanterns and conga drums for their kids to sell. They go out on foot with the money they earn to buy food. Sometimes, people give them food.
In a poverty trap: The city has many pockets where kids and families take shelter under the open sky. The persistent worry is being trapped in this situation, despite some benefitting from government education.
🚄 Vande Bharat capacity to be doubled
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The Chennai-Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Express capacity will soon be doubled to 16 coaches.
What’s it about? The Indian Railways has decided to extend the existing 8-car Vande Bharat express train from Chennai Egmore to Tirunelveli to a 16-car rake due to high demand.
- The commercial department sought an extension of the train from the transportation branch due to high patronage. The route is among the most popular, with a 119% occupancy rate.
- Currently, the train is an 8-car rake, with seven chair cars, each with 78 seats and an executive car with 56 seats. The chair and executive sections will be doubled. Following this, there will be over 1,100 seats.
Route specifics: The express train covers 650 km between Egmore and Tirunelveli in 7.5 hours, travelling at an average speed of 83 km/h.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you participated in a debate in school or college?
- I have participated in a debate in school or college.
- I haven’t participated in a debate in school or college.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What childhood candy/chocolate do you wish was still available?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Viral infections and fever cases have increased in Chennai following the recent rains.
- Writer and academic K Srilata pens an essay on how we’re all to blame for Chennai’s flood woes.
- With more rain forecast, the Chennai Corporation has begun fixing and connecting stormwater drains.
- The Chennai Corporation’s crackdown on civic violations over the past month has netted over ₹1 crore.
- Protesting doctors surrounded Udhayanidhi Stalin’s car following attack on Oncologist.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I buy organic produce regularly: 27.3%
- I don’t buy organic produce regularly: 72.7% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
Which small habit has made a big difference in your daily life?
Kavi: “Cycling”
Suchi: “Meditation”
Shiva: “Watching shorts / reddit (not for the betterment)”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!