December seems determined to test the resilience of the people of Chennai. Demonetisation along with Cyclone Vardah has made life tough for Chennaites. With neither ATMs nor swiping machines working because of the power shutdown, people are struggling with the cash crunch.
Kalyan S (name changed), a media professional in Chennai, says, "The whole idea of a digital India works when the infrastructure works". The current situation in the cyclone-ravaged city, he points out, is anything but so. The father of a month old baby, and son to diabetic parents, Kalyan had a harrowing time on Tuesday when he set out to get medicines for his parents.
I had just Rs 400 in cash with me and I had to buy food, fill petrol and get medicines. Even Saravana Bhavan refused to take card.
Since none of the shops would accept cards, Kalyan had to go to Central, to his in-laws' place, from his house in Anna Nagar to get money.
But even in these troubled times, Chennai is rising to meet the challenge.The foot soldiers of the corporation and the electricity board are fighting exhaustion in their effort to put the city back on its feet.
After the cyclone, Chennai's streets were full of broken trees and wires till the corporation and electricity board came to the rescue. The workers haven't slept properly in the last three days but are determined to help people and bring back normalcy after the natural disaster.
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