Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 32 ℃ | Low: 25 ℃ | Clear skies for today.
🧐 Did you know? The 2023 edition of the Kalaignar Memorial International Marathon set a world record for the largest running race series. Over 73,000 people participated.
⚡ Low rooftop solar capacity
A new study found that Chennai accounts for only 6% of the state’s rooftop solar capacity.
What’s it about? Per the Needs Assessment Report for Scaling Up Rooftop Solar in Chennai, the city accounts for only 6% of Tamil Nadu’s solar rooftop photovoltaic capacity. It’s mostly due to the prevalence of multi-storey buildings and the subsidised power tariff.
- Chennai’s cumulative rooftop solar capacity is 31 MW, compared to the state’s capacity of 526 MW. The slow adoption is due to multi-storey buildings and multiple Electricity Board (EB) connections in the same building.
- The EB tariff structure isn’t conducive to solar adoption. The government subsidises power to domestic consumers with bi-monthly consumption of less than 500 units. There’s no financial incentive for people to switch to solar.
Analysis: An analysis of the EB retail tariff and network charges showed that consumers installing a 2 KW solar system would save ₹3.41 lakh after network charges are excluded. However, with network charges, savings decrease to ₹2.87 lakh.
🏃♀️ Chennai Marathon registrations open
The 13th edition of the Chennai Marathon will take place next month, and registrations are now open.
What’s it about? The 13th edition of the Freshworks Chennai Marathon is scheduled to take place on Sunday, January 5. Over 25,000 runners are expected to participate. The last date for registrations is December 10.
- The event will have four categories for men and women. The 42.19 km full marathon, the 32.18 km Perfect 20 Miler, the 21.09 km Half Marathon, and the 10 km run.
- The full marathon will be flagged off at Napier Bridge, Marina Beach, and run through the scenic route towards the Lighthouse. It will later pass through Madhya Kailash, Tidel Park, and East Coast Road (ECR).
Unique aspects: This edition will have visually impaired runners, 100 blade runners, and 100 wheelchair runners. It will also be the only such event in India accredited by SheRACES, the UK NGO that ensures gender equality. The marathon will also be certified by The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), an association of the organisers of long-distance runners.
💍 Child labour in jewellery-making
Bonded child labour remains a mainstay in Chennai’s jewellery-making units.
What’s it about? A team of officers arrived at a jewellery-making unit in a densely populated street in Choolai. They found children and 30 adults on the first and second floors of the building making jewellery. Among them was a 13-year-old boy who came to Chennai from West Bengal to escape poverty.
- The families of the boys were paid ₹25,000-30,000 each to bring the kids to Chennai with the promise of a monthly wage of ₹10,000. The employer also promised that their wages would increase as they mastered the craft of jewellery making.
- They work in a 12×22 sq ft room, sleep for about six hours a day and work for 13 hours, with lunch and dinner breaks. The third floor has a kitchen where an elderly person cooks their meals.
What do the laws say? None of the neighbours knew of the facility and officials said there are several similar units across the city. The Deputy Director of Factories filed a complaint with the police who invoked sections 16 of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act and sections 143 (trafficking) and 146 (forced labour).
💸 Record campus placement offer
An IIT Madras student received a ₹4.3 crore job offer during the ongoing placement season.
What’s it about? IIT Madras is currently undergoing its final placement season and one offer has stood out. A student was offered a ₹4.3 crore job offer, creating a record.
- The offer was made by trading giant Jane Street for a quantitative trader role in Hong Kong. It includes the base salary, a fixed bonus, and relocation allowances.
- The offer was made via the pre-placement offer (PPO) route to a computer science and engineering student who previously interned with the company.
Placement season highlights: Big companies like Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Capital One have participated in this year’s placement season. The high-paying roles are in software, analytics, finance and consulting.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you use more than one social media platform?
- I use more than one social media platform.
- I don’t use more than one social media platform.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What degree/discipline would you like to study?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- For transparent enrolment, the University of Madras has developed a separate online platform for PhD admissions.
- The World Maritime Conference in Chennai brings industry leaders and experts to discuss the expanding nature of maritime trade.
- The Hyundai Motor Group has partnered with IIT Madras, among others, for battery and electrification research.
- Airline passengers at the Chennai airport are unhappy about the sudden change in parking fees.
- Amid public opposition, the Chennai Corporation has scrapped plans for the Perungudi eco-park.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have flown a kite: 44.4%
- I haven’t flown a kite: 55.6% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What do you think is the biggest misconception about Chennai?
Suchi: “That it is very conservative.”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!