Highlights
Plus Publications/Regulations:
Seatbelts save lives - but too many among us don't use them. In India (2023), over 16,025 people died in crashes because they weren’t wearing seatbelts.
In Tamil Nadu, 536 lives were lost for the same reason. These are preventable deaths. Two seconds to buckle up could mean a lifetime saved. A family spared years of grief.
Whether you’re in the front seat or the back, driver or passenger, seatbelts aren’t optional. Buckle up!
Whose City Is This? Are Indian cities truly inclusive for everyone? Sathish Kumar, a wheelchair user, began using public buses after the introduction of low-floor buses in Chennai — completing an impressive 312 rides within a year of their launch. This milestone, made possible after decades of advocacy, marks more than personal freedom: it represents a vital step towards making our cities accessible and inclusive for all.
Our cities are growing and expanding every day, but true progress means putting people first when designing our cities. People-centred smart city is about:
Walkable, safe, and inclusive streets
Affordable housing and accessible services
Green public spaces that connect communities
Technology that empowers its citizens
Sustainable transport that keeps everyone moving
From local communities to global networks, partnerships drive progress. When governments, NGOs, businesses, and citizens work together, change becomes stronger and more lasting. Collaboration is key to achieving every SDG.
#SDG17 #PartnershipsForTheGoals
Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG), Asar and Poovulagin Nanbargal organised a rooftop solar awareness workshop at Ayanavaram, Chennai. The event took place on Sunday, 31 August, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Around 30 participants from Ayanavaram and nearby areas attended the session, with most of them being independent home owners.
Mr. K. Phanindra Reddy is a retired IAS officer (1990 batch, Tamil Nadu cadre). Over his career, he has held key roles in urban development, water management, and public administration. As Collector of Perambalur, he pioneered women’s self-help groups through Anganwadi workers. He later served as MD/CEO of Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited, managing major World Bank, KfW, and JICA projects, and chaired the State Finance Commission. As Member Secretary of the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust, he led the restoration of the Adyar Creek. As Principal Secretary, he introduced faecal sludge management, desalination and stormwater projects, and launched the Sustainable Water Security Mission.
He has also led the Handlooms, HR&CE, Revenue, Commercial Taxes, and Home, Prohibition & Excise Departments, implementing reforms such as the 7th Pay Commission for temple staff, cyclone relief operations, stronger GST enforcement, and the Online Gambling Prohibition Act and in his final posting as Additional Chief Secretary, Transport and Natural Resources Management, he has driven CNG bus conversions, logistics expansion, and digital permit systems to curb illegal mining.
Choosing fresh, real foods over processed, high-salt, high-sugar options helps keep your brain strong and lowers stroke risk.
And remember the FAST signs:
F – Face: Smile check – any droop?
A – Arms: Can both arms lift equally?
S – Speech: Slurred or strange speech?
T – Time: Act fast! Call emergency services immediately.
Right to a motorable road = constitutional right. The Kerala High Court affirmed that citizens have a constitutional right to safe, motorable roads.
Courts are making it clear:
- Governments must maintain roads to prevent fatalities.
- Citizens deserve hazard-free, motorable routes.
- Unsafe roads violate the Right to Life under the Constitution.
The Expert Consultation on the Road Safety Action Plan for Tamil Nadu, organised by Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG), brought together experts and stakeholders from diverse sectors to deliberate on strategies for strengthening road safety across the state. The consultation sought to identify actionable priorities, enhance data-driven decision-making, and promote coordinated implementation of safety measures.