Good morning, Chennai!
🌤️ Today’s weather: High: 33 ℃ | Low: 26 ℃ | A little cloudy for the day.
🧐 Did you know? The Pallavaram cantonment board is said to be the second oldest in India. It played a major role in furthering the British’s military interest.
🏠 Kannappar Thidal residents’ ordeal ends
The long struggle for Kannappar Thidal residents comes to an end as they get new homes.
What’s the story so far? 114 families and the state government have been at odds over new houses after they were evicted from the streets near the Ripon Building over two decades ago. There has also been a tug of war over the ₹4.27 lakh beneficiary contribution.
- Following protests, the Chennai Corporation passed a council resolution to bear one-third of the contribution. The state government said each family would get ₹1.42 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) Mission Scheme.
- Last month, at an event presided over by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, 114 families were given allocation orders for their new homes in tenements in Moolakothalam.
New homes: The 400 sq ft homes are a far cry from where these families used to live with barely any space for a family. In the older single-room homes, the women would sleep inside while the men had to sleep outside.
🏏 Dhoni’s CSK future
The CSK player’s IPL future remains in doubt ahead of the IPL 2025 retention deadline.
What’s it about? While some expected 2024 to be MS Dhoni’s last IPL tournament, he could still return for next year’s edition. However, it’s not confirmed as CSK CEO revealed Dhoni hasn’t confirmed his participation.
- Dhoni is the most high-profile player who could benefit from the new uncapped player rule. It allows teams to retain former Indian internationals at an uncapped base price of ₹4 crore if they haven’t played internationally in the last 5 years.
- Since Dhoni retired after the 2019 ODI World Cup, he could rejoin CSK at a discounted price. Dhoni is no longer the CSK captain after he relinquished it to Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Performance: While CSK missed the playoffs in the last edition, it was a narrow loss to the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final group stage match. Dhoni batted lower down the order and averaged 53 with a strike rate of 220.55.
🛍️ Lull in textile sales
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As Diwali shopping gets underway, textile shops in the city are worried about low sales.
What’s it about? As the Diwali shopping season begins, it’s discounts galore at storefronts. The city’s textile outlets are stocking up on festive collections. However, there are concerns about a lull in sales due to competition from online stores and other factors.
- U Shenbagaraj, store manager of Super Saravana Stores, said sales are better than last year. Instead of offering discounts, they’ve priced products at lower rates with new designs.
- For some stores, in T Nagar, for example, factors like accessibility have affected sales. The flyover construction on South Usman Road has meant lower footfall.
External competition: While Diwali shopping continues to be an annual ritual for many, e-commerce sites and Instagram stores have become popular.
🎓 University awaits grants
Madras University has yet to receive its surplus grant from the Centre.
What’s the story so far? Madras University was granted category 1 status by the University Grants Commission (UGC) about six months ago. That made it eligible for a ₹100 crore surplus grant from the Centre. The university applied for the grant after it received the category 1 status.
- The application was sent in March, and a reminder was sent in August asking the Centre to release the funds. The university is eligible for ₹100 crore in two phases to strengthen its research and development work.
- The university can’t manage its day-to-day expenses and is unable to open research parks and launch new courses. When the university was granted category-II status in 2019, it received ₹40 crore under the scheme.
UGC categorisations: Per the UGC Regulations, 2018, category 1 is the highest with the maximum level of autonomy. A university can begin new programmes and skill courses and set up off-campus centres.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Do you partake in Diwali shopping every year?
- I shop during Diwali every year.
- I don’t shop during Diwali every year.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
On average, how many hours in a day do you spend on your phone?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Silver jewellery has gained popularity among Chennaiites this festive season.
- The Highways Department will acquire defence land to widen the GST Road.
- Unmarried women in Chennai face discrimination at diagnostic centres for pap smears and hormonal IUCDs.
- MOP Vasihnav’s ‘Bustle’ annual corporate quiz saw businesses and industries attend.
- Rare blue bioluminescent waves crashed onto the shores of a beach on East Coast Road.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I believe large fines can prevent littering: 90.9% 🏆
- I don’t believe large fines can prevent littering: 9.1%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
If you could work remotely from anywhere in the world, where would you be?
Suchi: “My home in Chennai!”
Shiva: “Home”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!