Harsha Raj Gatty | | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

a domestic help preparing food in the kitchen

Call them back to work; They’re waiting

June 24, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty and Manasi Paresh Kumar

In earlier articles in the Ground Reality series, we looked at cash shortage, food insecurity and domestic conflict in poor urban households during the lockdown. They are now trying to rebuild their lives. This is about how we can help.

How lockdown + unemployment + hunger + liquor increased domestic conflicts in low income households

June 18, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty and Pranshu Rathee

Adding alcohol to the already-potent mix of livelihood loss and food insecurity set off a range of mental health issues. It manifested in domestic conflicts in low-income households. Women were often at the receiving end of volatile emotions and domestic violence.

Poor people queue up for relief supplies during the lockdown

Unsure of next meal, poor Bengaluru slept on empty stomach during lockdown

June 17, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty and Pranshu Rathee

While authorities failed to assess the extent of the crisis, food security and hunger haunted the poor working class throughout the lockdown.

Metro workers in a labour colony during lockdown

Without cash, migrant workers fall back on their families for roti, kapda, makaan

June 16, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty and Pranshu Rathee

With no income, the lockdown affected every aspect of an informal worker’s life. It was only reverse remittances that kept them afloat, finds out the first of this four-part Ground Reality Series

Can amended Zonal Regulations protect heritage in Bengaluru?

May 28, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty

Bengaluru has lost many of its heritage sites to rapid urbanisation. Last month, state government amended Zonal Regulations so as to identify and preserve a wide range of heritage sites.

Two years, one lakh wells: Can ‘Million Wells’ movement help solve Bengaluru’s water crisis?

May 12, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty

In just two years, ‘A Million Wells’ movement has inspired Bengalureans to dig over 1.2 lakh recharge wells. If more citizens take up the cause, it could very well solve the city’s water crisis.

Will your neighbourhood grocery store recover from COVID lockdown?

May 5, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty

Neighbourhood shops selling essentials have stayed open during lockdown, but even they have suffered severe losses. Disrupted supply chain, extremely low footfalls, lack of movement passes and home delivery staff meant they have a long road to recovery.

COVID-19 lockdown: Bengaluru’s informal workers struggle to meet food, rent expenses

April 22, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty

Domestic workers who aren’t welcome to work anymore, cab drivers and street vendors who can’t go out – informal workers in the city are a frustrated lot as they have no work or wages anymore. Many are unable to meet basic expenses for food and rent.

“COVID-19 scenario escalated too quickly, caught us off-guard”: Karnataka police chief Praveen Sood

April 15, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty

The police has received both appreciation and criticism for its enforcement of the lockdown. In this candid interview, DG&IGP Praveen Sood says they weren’t prepared for the situation and are still learning and adapting.

B’luru lockdown: Garment workers face uncertainty, factory owners unwilling to pay wages

April 3, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty

Over four lakh garment factory workers in Bengaluru face uncertainty as managements are unwilling to pay their wages until the lockdown ends. Managements say they need a stimulus package from the government so as to pay wages in April.

Will vendors’ eviction make street food in Bengaluru safer?

March 13, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty

In the last few days, street food businesses were evicted following the cholera scare. For what food safety violations has BBMP shut them down? And will this force vendors to stick to standards?

Volunteers on night patrol: How Bengalureans are helping the police monitor crime

February 14, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty

Around 300 people are now enrolled under Bengaluru police’s Neighbourhood Watch Committee programme. These volunteers accompany the police on night patrols, helping the department deal with staff shortage

Bengaluru’s women factory workers can now do night shifts, but will it help them?

January 16, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty

As per a recent state government notification, women factory workers can now do night shifts. While the progressive move has been lauded, there are concerns that it could lead to more exploitation of workers

ಹೊಂಡಗಳಂತೆ ಕಾಣುವ ರಸ್ತೆಗುಂಡಿಗಳು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಎಷ್ಟೋ ರಸ್ತೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇನ್ನೂ ರಾರಾಜಿಸುತ್ತಿವೆ.

ರಸ್ತೆಗುಂಡಿ ಅಫಘಾತ ಸಂತ್ರಸ್ತರಿಗೆ ಪಾಲಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ಪರಿಹಾರ ವಿಳಂಬ! ಪರಿಹಾರ ಧನಕ್ಕೆ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥಿತ ಕಾರ್ಯಸೂಚಿ ಇಲ್ಲದೆ ಹೈರಾಣಾದ ಸಂತ್ರಸ್ತರು

January 7, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty

ರಸ್ತೆಗುಂಡಿಗಳು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಲವಾರು ಅಪಘಾತಗಳಿಗೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಸಾವಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಕಾರಣವಾಗಿವೆ. ಆದರೆ, ಸಂತ್ರಸ್ತರಿಗೆ ಪರಿಹಾರ ಮಾತ್ರ ಸದಾ ಮಹಾಪೌರರ ವಿವೇಚನೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ನಿರ್ಧಾರಿತವಾಗಿದೆ. ಉಚ್ಚನ್ಯಾಯಾಲಯದ ಆಜ್ಞೆ ಇದ್ದಾಗ್ಯೂ, ಬಿ.ಬಿ.ಎಂ.ಪಿ ಪರಿಹಾರ ಧನಕ್ಕೆ ಇನ್ನೂ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥಿತ ವಿಧಾನ ಕಲ್ಪಿಸಿಲ್ಲ.

Poor attendance, no accountability: Why Bengaluru’s ward committees aren’t yielding results

December 10, 2019 Harsha Raj Gatty

A year ago, ward committee meetings started in Bengaluru. Then why is it that citizens still don’t have a say in the governance of their wards?