Media Coverage

Sumana, CAG, talking about the plight of pedestrians in Chennai, comments that we have a Non-Motorised Transport policy, but that it exists only on paper. She adds that while areas like Pondy Bazaar are good examples of pedestrian friendly spaces, these are too few and far between. The government is still mostly focussed on prioritising private motorised vehicles by building flyovers and widening roads. This is not sustainable.

As part of its Climate Change Mission, the state has begun planning a climate literacy programme for school students and other citizens. CAG is conducting a survey on climate literacy among school students which will provide the baseline for assessing outcomes of the programme. 

Chennai needs more buses. And in an effort to expand its old and ailing fleet, the MTC has announced the addition of 1000 privately run buses to its fleet. While Sumana, CAG agrees this could provide much needed respite to our public transportation sector, it is unlikely that  the private sector will be willing to ply on the not so lucrative routes. Nor will they honour the special fare provisions offered to women, students, people with disabilities etc.  

Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group (CAG) in collaboration with the Social Consumer Rights Movement, Salem and the Tirunelveli District Consumer Awareness Movement conducted media workshops for journalists, journalism students and other media professionals focusing on the benefits and challenges of sustainable transportation in Tamil Nadu at Salem and Tirunelveli. The workshops highlighted the crucial role of media coverage in urban sustainable road infrastructure development. Our speakers, experts from academia and civil society, shared valuable insights on how the media can act as changemakers in endorsing and promoting sustainable development. The event was covered by widely both the digital and mainstream media

'The multi-stakeholder consultation on hypertension care and control' event organised by CAG brought together several well regarded doctors and nutritionists. They called for mass awareness, identification and treatment programmes.

An expert panel comprising doctors and nutritionists gathered at the multistakeholder consultation on hypertension organised by CAG. They called for better awareness campaigns on the 'silent killer'. Hypertension produces little to no symptoms of its own and can therefore be easily missed.

The National Conference on Air Pollution and Climate Change organised by CAG was a common space to discuss the air pollution / climate change nexus, sources of air pollution and sustainable solutions to break the chain.

CAG's textbook for middle graders to teach climate literacy, was formally released by Mr. Deepak Bilgi, Director, Department of Environment and Climate Change at the National Conference on Air Pollution and Climate Change. The programme is currently running in its pilot phase in select Chennai schools.

CAG's National Conference on Air Pollution and Climate Change saw top government officlas, distinguished academia, and concerned public come together to discuss the undeniable link between air pollution and climate change.

The recently notified Tamil Nadu Apartment Ownership Act 2022 permits re-development of buildings more than 30 years old with the assent of just two thirds of the apartment owners. Commenting on this Saroja, CAG, explains that the move could place vulnerable groups at risk, who might be unable to move out of the property for various reasons; and that decisions as important as this should consider every resident's unique needs and ability to comply.

In this article that describes the menace of bike racing on Chennai's roads, Sumana, CAG, explains that with young people having a poor grasp of the risks of speeding, our driving tests need to be more robust, and awareness programmes need to be more extensive. 

To mark Road Safety Week, CAG together with Patrician College of Arts and Science organised a road safety awareness programme targeting young riders / drivers, explaining the risks of speeding, riding without a license, not using safety gear etc.