Thanks to the Corporation’s Gender and Policy Lab, Chennai has emerged as India’s first gender-inclusive city.
What’s it about? The Corporation’s Gender and Policy Lab, inaugurated last year, was set up to improve opportunities for women by highlighting gender equality and safety in public spaces. It’s the work being done with the Nirbhaya Programme. Its initiatives for inclusiveness and accessibility in infrastructure have been fruitful. The Lab works with city and state officials to suggest and implement changes.
- The Lab conducted safety audits to identify lapses in public spaces and infrastructure. This includes surveying spaces for footpaths, adequate street lights, and availability of public transport.
- The Lab also conducts periodical campaigns. Last year, the night cycle drive was done to promote women’s safety. There are also gender equality and awareness courses in corporation schools.
Who said what? Corporation commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi said recommendations by the Lab are studied by the apex committee comprising stakeholders in the city’s governance. One member of the Lab said the state government has been open to the ideas, including Mayor R Priya.