Good morning, Chennai!
☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny weather for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The clothing pattern Madras Checks stems from the handloom pattern for India’s peasants in Madraspatnam. Local weavers would extract soft fibres from the native trees to weave handkerchiefs with block-printed brightly coloured check patterns.
✊ Delivery workers’ strike
Gig workers went on strike in the city for better pay and working conditions.
What’s it about? Due to the strike, delivery of food and groceries from online apps in some parts of the city was affected. According to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), over 85% of registered delivery partners didn’t work, and the protest will continue.
- They allege the apps provide false information on the distance between the restaurants/hotels and the delivery points. Despite repeated complaints, the fleet managers haven’t resolved the issue.
- CITU officials said delivery companies, particularly Swiggy, have also reduced incentives and travel allowances.
Effect on consumers: People had to wait longer than usual for their deliveries even after paying surge fees. A few restaurants went offline after 12 pm. In and around T Nagar, only 260 eateries were available in the afternoon when the usual number is over 380.
- Swiggy said there were delays in some parts of Chennai and that services would be normalised.
📱 Namma Chennai app upgrade
For the first time since its launch, the Corporation’s app will be upgraded.
What’s it about? If you’ve found it tedious to raise complaints on the Chennai Corporation’s Namma Chennai app, there’s good news ahead. The app will be upgraded and redesigned for the first time since its launch in 2018.
- One of the complaints was people being unable to choose streets. People found it complex to pick since the Corporation created sub-areas with similar names like Anna Nagar West 103, 104, etc. Under each of these, there were dozens of streets.
- Searching the sub-areas was a cumbersome process. Residents will now have the option to locate streets thanks to an area header. Due to this issue, residents were unable to raise complaints.
Feedback: One suggestion from a resident was the app should have features similar to that of the Corporation’s website. Services like birth and death certificates don’t work well.
♻️ Plastic waste art
An art installation made of plastic waste was set up to highlight the pollution of water bodies.
What’s it about? Waterbodies and marine life are being threatened by plastic waste pollution, which is no longer confined to landfills. Authorities in Chennai set up an art installation at the Besant Nagar beach to raise awareness on plastic polluting oceans.
- The installation was set up before a beach cleanup exercise to mark the third G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group meeting.
- The installation is of a giant fish made of discarded plastic retrieved from the beach to reflect how it harms marine life.
🏏 Thala Dhoni
MS Dhoni holds a special place in the hearts and minds of Chennaiites.
What’s the connection? Chennai’s favourite son, MS Dhoni, has worn the famous yellow of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for over a decade. He’s affectionately referred to as ‘Thala’ as a mark of salutation, admiration, and respect. He’s earned and embraces it, as seen in promotional videos for the team.
- As he took the national team to new heights, he built a cult-like following in Chennai, thanks to the IPL. Despite not knowing the local language or being born here, he found a way to connect to the local population through cricket.
- He propelled CSK to four IPL trophies beginning in 2010. The current season was touted as his last hurrah, which only made people clamour more to catch one final glimpse.
A dampener: While support for Dhoni and the CSK has endured, fans couldn’t necessarily catch their favourite son in action, with the newly renovated stadium having empty seats thanks to allocation issues and high ticket prices.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you ever asked a famous person for their autograph or a photo?
- Yes, I have asked a famous person for their autograph or a photo.
- No, I haven’t asked a famous person for their autograph or a photo.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Who do you consider to be the most famous Chennaiite?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Traffic on Anna Salai was halted for over three hours due to an AIADMK protest.
- Gender equity was at the forefront at the Squash World Cup‘s official announcement.
- Designer Kathir Arumugam from Chennai helped design the Keeladi Museum’s display wall.
- Chennai Metro discontinues the initiative for fans to use IPL tickets as travel tickets.
- Kilambakkam bus terminus will miss its inauguration deadline of June.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- My home runs on renewable energy: 0.0%
- My home doesn’t run on renewable energy: 100.0% 🏆
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
What’s the go-to supermarket/store for your grocery needs?
Chitra: “Big Basket”
Kalaiarasi: “Adyar departmental store”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!