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Showing posts from March, 2017

A three-hour worth wait

It was one of those days which now and then every working journalists faces while reporting in the field. It didn't start well at all. While cultivating sources for the story, I came across some phone numbers. I started by calling to the office of Tamil Nadu Government Employees' Associations (TNGEA) which was never picked up for six times in a row. And, the seventh attempt didn't do much wonder either. A lady on the other side responded and just cut the phone before I could even explain my purpose of calling them. I just wanted to ask them at what time can I be there so I can talk to someone who holds official position. However, as I have to go anyway, I decided to leave as early as possible. The same story again repeated. After taking off the MRTS at Thiruvallikeni Station, I again took the wrong root even after asking almost everyone who was passing by. After going around the place for twenty-minutes, I reached the place which was on the other side of the station, ...

Meeting women entrepreneurs in Chennai

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL Since I have been here in Chennai, reaching the reporting site has been the real problem for me. Even today, it took an hour to decide how to reach today's venue. After consulting local friends and those who have been in that part of city, I reached the location C.P. Art Centre in Alwarpet of Chennai. This afternoon, I was covering Textiles and Handicraft Exhibition being held at the centre. As soon as I reached there and started interacting, the trouble of reaching the location was forgotten. The first person I approached for my story was Mallika Venktesh, a 63-years-old woman entrepreneur. She has been running her family business of manufacturing and selling cotton and jute items for last 15 years. Her energy was infectious. Even at this age, she is energetic and enjoying what she is doing. Her software engineer son lives in London so if she wants then she could adjust for a normal life. But she is not only independent but also providing income opport...