Reports

Climate Action Month 2024 was an incredible success, reaching over 20,000 individuals, including students and the general public. Throughout August, a series of engaging events took place across schools, colleges, public parks, and other venues. These events creatively conveyed the urgent message of climate change through a variety of artistic expressions, such as music performances, mime acts, flash mobs, and puppetry. The month served as a powerful platform for raising awareness and inspiring action on climate issues.

The emergence of smartphones has transformed public transportation in cities such as Chennai. Commuters now have access to various digital tools, such as the MTC’s Chennai Bus Application, to enhance their daily commutes. This report seeks to evaluate how effectively the MTC’s Chennai Bus Application supports its users in their everyday lives and to identify potential improvements for the future.

Following our study on patient perspectives on access to hypertension care through PHCs in Tiruvannamalai, this study looks at doctors' perspectives in treating hypertension. The study examines responses from 25 doctors from a cross section of specialties, looking at diagnoses protocols, patient compliance, reported affordability of treatment etc.

The Pedestrian Plaza project in Pondy Bazaar, under the Chennai Smart City Initiative aimed to create pedestrian-friendly spaces by relocating street vendors to a dedicated complex. CAG’s study, surveying 350 customers and 170 vendors, found that 94% of vendors reported changes in their income post-relocation, with 64% experiencing an increase. Among customers, 71% viewed the relocation positively, while 29% indicated they missed the street shopping experience.

The Helmet Conundrum: A study by CAG surveying 520 parents and 145 helmet shops in Chennai reveals that only 25% of children wear helmets, with 12% using adult helmets. Shocking findings considering that children are amongst the most vulnerable of road users and the parental instinct is to prioritise safety of their children, even over their own.

This report details CAG's findings on the impact of the Meendum Manjappai campaign on both consumers and vendors, with the study covering eight districts in Tamil Nadu. Meendum Manjappai is a flagship campaign of the Government of Tamil Nadu which promotes the use of cloth bags, thus reducing the reliance on single-use plastic (SUP) carry bags in the state.

In documenting the voices of hypertensive patients from our pilot study in Tiruvannamalai district, we found an overwhelming number of respondents to be satisfied with their hypertension healthcare services provided through PHCs and the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme. These services  are certainly improving access to healthcare, particularly among the lower sections of the rural community. However, aspects of the programme still need improvement. Read our report to know more. 
 

CAG's survey in Chennai highlights the everyday challenges faced by livelihood cyclists. Cyclists reported a stark lack of safe cycle paths and parking facilities. Better infrastructure and courteous motorists will go a long way to creating safer spaces for our cyclists.

This report analyses sustainable practices among school students in Chennai, through a range of questions on their daily routines. It looks particularly at sustainable mobility, electricity consumption, water usage, and waste disposal, offering valuable insights to drive positive change.

CAG conducted a baseline study for the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission, funded by the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Tamil Nadu, to understand climate literacy. The findings suggest that we need to intensify our efforts to familiarise students and people with the science behind climate change.