New mikes were installed at all seats in the corporation council
meeting room, bringing relief to women councillors who usually had a
difficult time raising their voices to be heard.

Councillors, especially women, had raised concerns over the lack of sufficient mikes in the Corporation council meeting hall.

Women
councillors of all parties had been complaining that they could not air
their grievances effectively at meetings because of the screaming by
other members, including the men councillors.

Councillor of ward
40, A Suganthi said,“Mayor P Karthiyayini had introduced a system of
listening to all the councillors from ward 1 to 60, in an order.
However, this took more time to end the meetings. So, the councillors
went back to speaking at random, forcing women councillors to scream.”

“We were hardly audible in the meetings,” Suganthi said, and added that they used to represent their grievances in writing.

Corporation
Engineer Baskaran said the local body had spent `3.5 lakh for the new
microphones with stands, sound mixing box, speakers and a new carpet for
the meeting hall.