Latest news with #Kalaivani
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu's first ‘Inclusive Design Manual' by Chennai Corporation hopes to make city accessible to all
Across Chennai, many adjust their routines every day, avoiding dim streets, skipping a park visit, or simply staying home. This is not because they want to. It is because the city, by design, is not aligned to their needs. As part of upgrading city amenities, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) recently released the State's first Inclusive Urban Design Manual. The document has data-driven guidelines, placing women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities (PwDs), and gender-diverse people at the centre of urban infrastructure planning. Kalaivani, who works as a nurse at a private hospital in Mettukuppam, said she preferred to cross the road at the traffic signal at night rather than use the nearby foot overbridge. 'I would rather walk than use the bridge with people loitering around.' Aiswarya Rao, founder of Better World Shelter for Women with Disabilities of Dorcas Research Centre, commended the initiative for addressing gender and accessibility concerns in urban planning. 'This is the first time gender is being discussed meaningfully in relation to city spaces. Beach access ramps were set up in two areas, and plans are afoot for one on Thiruvanmiyur beach. Women-only gyms were also established,' she said. However, she acknowledged that Chennai is still a difficult space for PwDs — public toilets remain largely inaccessible, and many roads, parks, and schools do not meet the basic accessibility standards. For instance, pointing to an audit conducted by the centre last year, she said, not a single GCC-run school was fully accessible to PwDs. She also raised concerns about the installation of bollards on footpaths, which restricted wheelchair mobility. D. Gnana Bharathi, a principal scientist at the Central Leather Research Institute who lives with a disability, said the flooring on the ramp at Chennai Central Station posed difficulties. 'The surface is not smooth, and the height difference is around one centimetre. This is said to be installed with the intention of minimising skidding, but an anti-skid or rough-finished surface would have been a better alternative,' he said. He added that the existing tile flooring could be particularly challenging for people with bone-related conditions, as a corrugated or uneven surface becomes difficult to navigate. Field audits covering youth, conservancy workers, women with disabilities, trans and non-binary persons, women traffic police, and more than 725 design evaluations were done to curate the manual. This has ready-to-apply solutions — from guidelines on footpaths and location of toilets, to street lighting and signage — so that the public infrastructure is accessible for every one in the city. It also specifies certain norms for different public utilities. In a note in the manual, Mayor R. Priya wrote: that change begins at home, and that parents must raise their girl children as equally as the boys and not discriminate. She also said people must understand that people must not judge women for their dress and attitude. 'If a woman speaks loudly, it must be understood that it is her characteristic,' she said.'Our parks, playgrounds, streets, bus stops, shelters for homeless persons, and e-Sevai Maiyams are not just facilities — they are essential public services and lifelines. These spaces must serve everyone equally, irrespective of gender, age, ability, or economic background.'
The Hindu
a day ago
- General
- The Hindu
GCC's ‘Inclusive Design Manual' hopes to make the city accessible to all
Across Chennai, many adjust their routines every day, avoiding dim streets, skipping a park visit, or simply staying home. This is not because they want to. It is because the city, by design, is not aligned to their needs. As part of upgrading city amenities, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) recently released the State's first Inclusive Urban Design Manual. The document has data-driven guidelines, placing women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities (PwDs), and gender-diverse people at the centre of urban infrastructure planning. Kalaivani, who works as a nurse at a private hospital in Mettukuppam, said she preferred to cross the road at the traffic signal at night rather than use the nearby foot overbridge. 'I would rather walk than use the bridge with people loitering around.' Aiswarya Rao, founder of Better World Shelter for Women with Disabilities of Dorcas Research Centre, commended the initiative for addressing gender and accessibility concerns in urban planning. 'This is the first time gender is being discussed meaningfully in relation to city spaces. Beach access ramps were set up in two areas, and plans are afoot for one on Thiruvanmiyur beach. Women-only gyms were also established,' she said. However, she acknowledged that Chennai is still a difficult space for PwDs — public toilets remain largely inaccessible, and many roads, parks, and schools do not meet the basic accessibility standards. For instance, pointing to an audit conducted by the centre last year, she said, not a single GCC-run school was fully accessible to PwDs. She also raised concerns about the installation of bollards on footpaths, which restricted wheelchair mobility. D. Gnana Bharathi, a principal scientist at the Central Leather Research Institute who lives with a disability, said the flooring on the ramp at Chennai Central Station posed difficulties. 'The surface is not smooth, and the height difference is around one centimetre. This is said to be installed with the intention of minimising skidding, but an anti-skid or rough-finished surface would have been a better alternative,' he said. He added that the existing tile flooring could be particularly challenging for people with bone-related conditions, as a corrugated or uneven surface becomes difficult to navigate. Field audits covering youth, conservancy workers, women with disabilities, trans and non-binary persons, women traffic police, and more than 725 design evaluations were done to curate the manual. This has ready-to-apply solutions — from guidelines on footpaths and location of toilets, to street lighting and signage — so that the public infrastructure is accessible for every one in the city. It also specifies certain norms for different public utilities. In a note in the manual, Mayor R. Priya wrote: that change begins at home, and that parents must raise their girl children as equally as the boys and not discriminate. She also said people must understand that people must not judge women for their dress and attitude. 'If a woman speaks loudly, it must be understood that it is her characteristic,' she said.'Our parks, playgrounds, streets, bus stops, shelters for homeless persons, and e-Sevai Maiyams are not just facilities — they are essential public services and lifelines. These spaces must serve everyone equally, irrespective of gender, age, ability, or economic background.'
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Business Standard
01-06-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Delhi schoolkids face surge in obesity and hypertension, warns Aiims study
Health issues like obesity, high blood pressure or even high cholesterol are no longer problems that only adults deal with. A new study by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (Aiims), Delhi — funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and published in the medical journal PLOS One — reveals that school-going children in the national capital are facing a serious health crisis. Private school kids five times more likely to be obese, says Aiims Titled Cardio-metabolic traits and its socioeconomic differentials among school children, including metabolically obese normal weight phenotypes in India, the study finds that children in private schools are over five times more likely to be obese. Hypertension now affects nearly one in 14 children in both private and public schools. The report also highlights that many slim-looking kids are metabolically unhealthy on the inside. What does the Aiims study reveal about children's health? Conducted across five schools in Delhi and involving 3,888 children aged 6–19 years, the Aiims study paints a dual picture of malnutrition in urban India: obesity and underweight. Obesity prevalence: 22.70 per cent in private schools vs 4.48 per cent in public schools Central obesity (belly fat): 16.77 per cent (private) vs 1.83 per cent (public) Hypertension: 7.37 per cent among urban adolescents across school types Underweight: Nearly five times more prevalent in public schools Hidden risks: 43 per cent of adolescents with normal weight are metabolically unhealthy Impaired fasting glucose: 20.74 per cent (private) vs 10.93 per cent (public) Dyslipidemia (abnormal blood fat levels): Seen in ~33 per cent of students Metabolic syndrome: 5.76 per cent in private schools vs 1.75 per cent in public schools Why are obesity and BP rising more in private schools? According to lead author Dr M Kalaivani, Assistant Professor of Biostatistics at Aiims-Delhi, private school environments often mirror high-income lifestyles with sedentary routines, reduced physical activity, and easy access to calorie-dense foods. Junk food is rampant, screen time is high, and physical education is often sidelined. Even public school children are not immune. 'They may not afford large, high-priced packs of nutritious food, but they often consume cheap, fried street food,' Dr Kalaivani told Business Standard. The calorie load is high, but nutritional value is low. What is MONW syndrome and how does it affect normal-weight kids? The study highlights a surprising trend: children with normal or even underweight body mass index (BMI) often have hidden fat accumulation and abnormal metabolic markers — a condition called Metabolically Obese Normal Weight (MONW), or Metabolically Obese Underweight (MOUW). What are the health risks of obesity and metabolic syndrome in kids? These are not just temporary issues. As children grow, these conditions increase long-term risk of: Type 2 diabetes Heart disease and stroke Lifelong obesity Mental health problems Dr Nikhil Tandon, co-investigator and Head of Endocrinology & Metabolism at Aiims, said, 'Early-life parameters are predictive of adult disease. Overnutrition is just as dangerous as undernutrition.' What role do schools play in this health crisis? Schools are both part of the problem and the solution: Private schools: Often offer canteens with unhealthy food choices and minimal physical activity Public schools: Struggle with carbohydrate-heavy mid-day meals and rising screen exposure Aiims researchers urge schools to overhaul food policies, prioritise physical activity, and embed health education into daily learning. How can parents help reverse the trend? Parents play a crucial role too. Overfeeding, using screen time as babysitting, and poor nutritional awareness are key contributors. Experts call for targeted awareness campaigns to engage and educate families. What needs to change to protect children's health? To reverse the trend, experts recommend: Enhancing mid-day meals with more protein and fibre Ensuring mandatory physical activity in all schools Reducing screen time and encouraging healthy snacks Conducting routine screenings for early metabolic markers Launching parent education programs on balanced diets
