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Voices of Chennai women take centre stage at Chennai Corporation exhibition
'I have been taking public transport — the bus and the local train — while working from various parts of the city to reach my home in Perungudi, and I have always felt safe. I have been bold,' said Vijiya, a 56-year-old worker with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), at the photography exhibition — 'Aval Idam' by the civic body's Gender and Policy Lab on Friday.
She said women in Chennai had become more independent and free compared to the past years and the city's infrastructure had been improved to meet their needs.
At the event organised by the GCC with the Chennai Photo Biennale and The Kala Collective, at the Thiruvanmiyur MRTS Park, Chennai Mayor R. Priya released a design guide — 'Inclusive Design Manual' — for gender-inclusive and accessible urban infrastructure.
The exhibition will go on till July 15.
The guide covers general design policies for 12 types of public infrastructures such as parks, beaches, streets, public spaces, open and closed markets, e-service centres, subways, foot overbridges, and spaces under flyovers. According to the GCC, inputs were collected from experts and a range of user groups, including people of different genders, ages and abilities, before finalising the guide.
Advaita, a student of Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M), said, although Chennai is much better regarding safety compared to New Delhi, her recent visit to Kannagi Nagar changed her perspective as locals pointed out to her places which are unsafe for anyone, let alone women. A native of Kerala, she said, 'Privilege has to be acknowledged and better amenities are needed,' she added.
Shanthi Radhakrishnan, 53, who moved from Bengaluru to Chennai 18 years ago said the safety infrastructure, especially roads were better in Chennai.
Sakthivel of Vyasai Thozhargal, a photographer whose work has been featured at the exhibition, said, in North Chennai, people of all genders speak up when they see something amiss and question the wrongdoers.
While writing in Bengali to her friend in West Bengal at the booth set up by the GCC, where people can send postcards about their favourite places in Chennai, Shayanthika says that her favourite spot is the Thiruvanmiyur MRTS Park. She appreciates it for its gym equipment and the ample walking space it provides for her elderly mother.
