Team Lead and Gender & M&E Expert
Policy Expert
Communications Expert
Programme Associate
Address: D Wing, Special Projects Department, 5th Floor,
Amma Maligai, Greater Chennai Corporation, Ripon Building Complex – 600003
Telephone Number: 044-25619668
Email Address: chennaigenderlab@gmail.com
The Gender and Policy Lab (GPL) was operationalized in February 2022 by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) under the Nirbhaya Funds as part of Chennai City Partnership between the Government of Tamil Nadu and World Bank. The objective of the Lab is to enhance women’s access to opportunities by improving safety and gender responsiveness in public spaces and transport through a collaborative approach involving multiple government departments, civil society organizations, elected representatives, and academic and research institutions.
Chennai is the only urban local body in India with a dedicated entity such as this, focusing on gender-inclusive infrastructure and services. The initiatives of the Gender and Policy Lab can be classified under the following four focus pillars:
1. Assess Ground Situation: Studies on women’s access and safety in Chennai by understanding perception and by assessing civic infrastructure.
2. Strengthen Policy: Review of state policies and developing operational manuals concerning women and providing recommendations for strengthening the same.
3. Build Capacity and Awareness: Conduct campaigns and workshops to promote women’s access and work in the city.
4. Strengthen Infrastructure and Services: Provide recommendations to different departments for making infrastructure and services better for women and girls.
1. 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.
2. To mainstream gender inclusivity so that it becomes a process and a natural element in all city-level planning and service delivery decisions.
An inclusive Chennai city for all genders where all women and girls are able to access every public space at any time without fear of sexual harassment or social censure; where they can take advantage of all the economic and leisure opportunities that the city holds for them; and where 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.
| S.No | Type of Programme | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Research and Analysis | City-wide Baseline Study on Women’s Perception of Safety in Public Spaces and Public Transport |
| 2 | Research and Analysis | 1913 Grievance Redressal Analysis for the Year June 2021-22 |
| 3 | Research and Analysis | Bi-lingual Online Park Survey to Understand Park Usage and Issues |
| 4 | Research and Analysis | Study on the Safety Concerns of Foot Over Bridges and Pedestrian Subways |
| S.No | Type of Programme | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Trainings and Building Skills, Knowledge and Capacity | Conceptualise and Set-up Gender Clubs in 70 High and Higher Secondary Schools and 92 Middle Schools |
| 2. | Trainings and Building Skills, Knowledge and Capacity | One Day Training of Education Department Administrators on understanding the PoSH Act in the School Context |
| 3. | Trainings and Building Skills, Knowledge and Capacity | Set up Regional Internal Complaints Committee and Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Training for all ICC Regional Office Committee Members |
| 4. | Trainings and Building Skills, Knowledge and Capacity | Safety Audit Training in Semmanchery in-partnership with Safetipin for selected Government Departments and NGOs |
| 5. | Trainings and Building Skills, Knowledge and Capacity | Two Day Session on for UPHC Doctors on Comprehensive Health Care Response to the Survivors of Domestic and Gender Based Violence |
| S.No | Type of Programme | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Strengthen Operations | Update Standard Operating Procedures for the Urban Homeless Shelters under NULM |
| 2. | Strengthen Operations | Update Inclusive Gender and Accessibility Design Recommendations in the Tender for 1000 Bus Stops |
| 3. | Strengthen Operations | Adapt Inclusive Park Infrastructure Recommendations with Checklists for Implementation |
| 4. | Strengthen Operations | Revise Parks Maintenance Standard Operating Procedures to Facilitate Accessibility and Safety for Women |
| 5. | Strengthen Operations | Understand the Risks and Challenges Faced by Women Engaged in SWM Work |
| S. No. | Type of Programme | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Campaigns and Collaborations | Night Cycling Campaign to Encourage Women to Occupy Spaces in the City after Dark |
| 2. | Campaigns and Collaborations | Two Day Campaign Speak up, Speak Out against Sexual Harassment with MTC in 4 Bus Depots |
| 3. | Campaigns and Collaborations | Acknowledging the Spirit of Chennai as part of Madras Day Celebration to Facilitate Community Volunteers and Discuss Women’s Access to Public Spaces |
| 4. | Campaigns and Collaborations | Social Media Campaign to Say No to Gender Based Violence as part of the 16 Days of Activism |
| 5. | Campaigns and Collaborations | Campaign to Illuminate Ripon and Napier’s Bridge in Orange as part of the 16 Days of Activism |
| 6. | Campaigns and Collaborations | Pan India Logo Design Competition |
| 7. | Campaigns and Collaborations | Ten Day Citizens for Safe Mobility Fellowship in partnership with Prajnya and Safetipin |
| S.No. | Type of Programme | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Orientation Programmes and Awareness Workshops | Orientation Programme on Gender and Sanitation in partnership with Indian Institute of Human Settlements (IIHS) |
| 2. | Orientation Programmes and Awareness Workshops | Two Day Workshop on Gender and Disabilities (Southern Region) along with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) |
| 3. | Orientation Programmes and Awareness Workshops | Orientation on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act 2013 and the 181 Women’s Helpline Services |
| 4. | Orientation Programmes and Awareness Workshops | One Day Workshop on Gender Inclusive Streets in Chennai along with World Bank and ITDP |
| 5. | Orientation Programmes and Awareness Workshops | Orientation Programme on Protection of Children against Sexual Offences (POCSO) for 281 HMs |
