Aparna Ganesan

Coronavirus

Navratri 2020: TN Golu doll makers struggle amidst coronavirus pandemic

“Here I am, unable to make money to even pay back my loans and the banks have already sent me a notice that I have been charged with interest-on-interest,” says Shekar, a Pondicherry-based doll-maker.

Current Events

International Day of the Girl Child: 75% married children in India are girls between ages 10-19

Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra are among the most critical states with respect to child marriages across all age-categories and gender.

Current Events

A closer look into Chennai’s COVID-19 sero survey

The findings of the sero study in Chennai showed that of the 12,405 individuals tested, 2,673 individuals had evidence of past SARS-CoV-2, with an unweighted sero prevalence. This means that around 80 per cent of the population is still susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection in Chennai.

Current Events

NEP 2020: Teachers’ role in achieving foundational literacy by 2025

NEP 2020 - the Centre’s move to revolutionize foundational literacy and numeracy - is a welcome one, but it lacks clarity when it comes to vacancies and skill development for teachers.

Environment

NGT extends deadline for report on alleged pollution by Sun Pharma

The original deadline of 1st September 2020 set by the National Green Tribunal for the Joint Committee has been extended by two months as the committee waits for the final results.

Current Events

“90% of jaggery produced in TN is adulterated,” says TFMA

“Sabarimala has stopped purchasing jaggery from Tamil Nadu and is now purchasing it from Maharashtra due to increased adulteration over the years,” says SP Jeyapragasam, President of the Tamil Nadu Food Grains Merchants Association (TFMA).

Environment

EIA 2020 deadline: Links with resource materials keep getting blocked online

Many Instagram users complained of limited or no functionality when their ‘link in bio’ was placed with the URL containing information about the draft EIA 2020.

Environment

Study confirms presence of pollutants in Wetlands within Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

A study shows the presence of cancer-causing industrial solvents found in water bodies within Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. Some are even likely to cause severe damage to the reproductive and nervous systems.

Politics

Reopening TASMAC amidst lockdown paves way for illegal sales of liquor in TN

“For how many days did the state give us a thousand rupees? It took it all back in TASMAC stores anyway,” said a labourer, pointing out that despite the state providing cash assistance to families in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) categories, it exploits their weaknesses during the coronavirus pandemic.

Takeaways

Poachers show off on TikTok, get arrested by the TN forest dept

Tamil Nadu faces increased poaching of wildlife despite the lockdown. “We are seeing a minimum of six cases of poaching carried out by youngsters every month,” said Sadiq Ali, Honorary wildlife warden for the Nilgiris.