About Us
The Gender and Policy Lab (GPL) was operationalized in February 2022 by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) with support from the Nirbhaya Funds, as part of Chennai City Partnership between the Government of Tamil Nadu and World Bank.Chennai is the only urban local body in India with a dedicated entity such as this, focusing on women’s safety, mobility and gender inclusive urban infrastructure.
Our Objectives
- To improve women’s access to opportunities by improving safety and gender responsiveness in public spaces and public transport, through a multi-pronged collaborative approach involving multiple government departments, civil society organizations, elected representatives, and academic and research institutions.
- To mainstream gender inclusivity so that it becomes a process and a natural element in all city-level planning and service delivery decisions.
Our Vision
A gender-inclusive Chennai where:
- All women and girls are able to access every public space, at any time, without fear of sexual harassment or social censure
- They can take advantage of all the economic and leisure opportunities that the city holds for them
- Officials take proactive steps towards addressing harassment and make consultative, gender-informed policy, infrastructure and service delivery decisions regarding public spaces and mobility for an inclusive and safe city
Our Focus Pillars
- Assess Ground Situation: Studies on women’s access and safety in Chennai by understanding perception and by assessing civic infrastructure.
- Strengthen Policy: Review of state policies and developing operational manuals concerning women and providing recommendations for strengthening the same.
- Build Capacity and Awareness: Conduct campaigns and workshops to promote women’s access and work in the city.
- Strengthen Infrastructure and Services: Provide recommendations to different departments for making infrastructure and services better for women and girls.
Watch our introductory video here to understand our work.
GPL Introductory Video
Institutional Mechanism
Our Team
- Team Lead
- Policy Expert
- Communication Expert
- Programme Associates
Key Studies and Publications
Research and analysis
- 1913 Grievance Redressal Analysis for the Year June 2021-2022
- Study on the Safety Concerns of Foot Over Bridges and Pedestrian Subways
- Citizens for safe mobility - safety audit across the city covering 46 locations, conducted in partnership with 22 citizens who were selected for the fellowship and trained in the safety audit process
Trainings and Building Skills, Knowledge and Capacity
- Conceptualised and Set-up Gender Clubs in 70 High and Higher Secondary Schools and 92 Middle Schools and in 49 schools in the extended areas of GCC.
- Safety Audit Training in Semmanchery in-partnership with Safetipin for selected Government Departments and NGOs.
- Two Day Session on for UPHC Doctors on Comprehensive Health Care Response to the Survivors of Domestic and Gender Based Violence.
Strengthen Operations
- Update Standard Operating Procedures for the Urban Homeless Shelters under NULM
- Update Inclusive Gender and Accessibility Design Recommendations in the Tender for 1000 Bus Stops
- Adapt Inclusive Park Infrastructure Recommendations with Checklists for Implementation
- Revise Parks Maintenance Standard Operating Procedures to Facilitate Accessibility and Safety for Women
- Understand the Risks and Challenges Faced by Women Engaged in SWM Work
Orientation Programmes and Awareness Workshops
- Orientation Programme on Gender and Sanitation in partnership with Indian Institute of Human Settlements (IIHS)
- Two Day Workshop on Gender and Disabilities (Southern Region) along with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA)
- One Day Workshop on Gender Inclusive Streets in Chennai along with World Bank and ITDP
- Orientation Programme on Protection of Children against Sexual Offences (POCSO) for 281 HMs
Campaign activities
- Night Cycling Campaign to Encourage Women to Occupy Spaces in the City after Dark
- Two Day Campaign Speak up,Speak Out against Sexual Harassment with MTC in 4 Bus Depots
- Acknowledging the Spirit of Chennai as part of Madras Day Celebration to Facilitate Community Volunteers and Discuss Women’s Access to Public Spaces
- Social Media Campaign to Say No to Gender Based Violence as part of the 16 Days of Activism
- Campaign to Illuminate Ripon and Napier’s Bridge in Orange as part of the 16 Days of Activism
- Pan India Logo Design Competition
Ongoing projects
Study of women working in public places
This study conducted in collaboration with LEAD - IFMR examines the issues faced by women working in public spaces and their most important needs. Covering a
sample of 400 plus women including women working as conservancy workers, postal services, delivery agents on food delivery apps and auto rickshaw drivers.
GCC Inclusive Design Manual
GCC Inclusive Design manual that will serve as a guide to design, build, and maintain gender-inclusive, Urban public spaces is being developed as part of the Empow-Her Space project. Empow-Her Space is a tendered project by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and Design Collab that brings a gender lens to understand urban environments and thereby design spaces that are inclusive of all genders. This project comprises several steps which include extensive audits of current infrastructures and practices, discussions with government personnel, experts, and diverse user groups, and development of a manual that puts into effect the insights gained in this process.
Gender Clubs
The gender club initiative involves setting up clubs at Chennai’s primary, middle, and high schools with the goal of instilling a gender-equal way of thinking in the minds of the students and thereby building a discrimination free society for the future. A module to guide these club sessions has been developed at GPL and covers several areas and topics such as differentiating sex and gender, building healthy relationships, gender violence, and life skills development. These sessions are complemented by a number of games that invite students to participate in insightful discussions and debates, reflect on real-life incidents, and engage in fun activities to apply their learnings.
Thappunu Therinja Pattunu Kelu – A campaign on women safety
Thappunu Therinja Pattunu Kelu campaign aims to sensitize people to intervene as bystanders in cases of harassment of women. 2 public service announcement video films have been made, demonstrating the different ways in a person can intervene as a bystander.
Awareness posters have also been distributed to educate people on the actions to be taken in such scenarios.
Contact us:
Address:
Gender and Policy Lab,
Special Projects Department,
Greater Chennai Corporation,
4th Floor, Muthamizh Arignar Kalignar Mu Karunanidhi Building,
Ripon Building Complex, Chennai 600 003.
Contact no: 044-25303668
Email: chennaigenderlab@gmail.com
Social Media
https://www.instagram.com/chennai_genderpolicylab?igsh=MWI3OHJzdmlhNjMycw==
YouTube
https://youtube.com/@chennai_genderandpolicylab?si=idBnyptQHsGBU-bq
Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gender-and-policy-lab-greater-chennai-corporation-286377303?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
