Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu, southern India; its local government is known as the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). Mayor Priya Rajan is the first woman to hold the position of Mayor following the Corporation’s revival after suspension in 2022. She has received high praise for the positive changes she has brought to Chennai.
Focus on education. Quoted from her interview in oneindia.com, Mayor Priya conveyed that her administration would focus on education. “It is highly essential for this generation. Only education can help a person in his/her life. That is why the GCC announced scholarships for students who wish to prepare for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance (NEET) exams. We are planning to conduct a ‘Happy Class’ for all the corporation school children,” she added. The Happy Class is the initiative of the city administration to create a meaningful and joyful learning environment, all leading to better academic outcomes and student well-being.
Facelift to infrastructure development. Under the Singara Chennai 2.0 scheme, GCC has allocated Rs 24.34 crore (USD 2,744,158) budget for 14 projects, including setting up eight parks and playgrounds, renovating one water tank, setting up a fish market, upgrading a slaughterhouse, and renovating three school buildings.
Environment focus. GCC also places high importance on the cleanliness and hygiene of the city. GCC constructs a bio-mining facility covering 225 acres in Perungudi with a budget of Rs 20 crore (USD 2,254,890), exclusively for waste management, and a bio-mining plant at Kodungaiyur with a budget of Rs 630 crore (USD 71,024,648).
Mayor Priya Ranjan has started improvements in Chennai. Support from various stakeholders, as well as an enabling environment, is essential in ensuring progress continues to come.
Sources:
https://gemlive.tv/chennai-corporation-mayor-priya-2/
https://www.oneindia.com/chennai/mayor-priya-rajan-the-woman-behind-chennai-s-modern-transformations-3552993.html
https://www.oneindia.com/politicians/priya-rajan-71979.html
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chennai/priya-rajan-graduate-chennai-first-dalit-woman-mayor-7799093/
https://earthrecycler.com/biomining/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chennai/playgrounds-parks-singara-chennai-2-0-scheme-stalin-8561190/
