Navya P K | | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

Struggling to meet living expenses, garment workers demand wage arrears of Rs 1862 crores

May 2, 2019 Navya P K

Workers want companies which usually supply to big brands, pay them arrears worth 1800 crores, as per the state government’s draft notification on wage hike.

Tanker water supply dwindling, Cauvery water yet to arrive: What’s BBMP promising Bellandur?

March 11, 2019 Navya P K

Apartment representatives got a slew of promises on water supply from MLA Aravind Limbavali this Saturday. But can BBMP deliver on these?

BMTC launches new routes connecting Sarjapur Road with E-City; is this what residents need?

March 5, 2019 Navya P K

BMTC has launched three new bus routes along the IT corridor, to service Sarjapur Road neighbourhoods. In a mini function today, MLA NA Haris, MLC Rizwan Arshad and Bellandur corporator Asha Suresh flagged off the

Retirement homes for elderly prove helpful, but lack regulation

December 28, 2018 Navya P K

Assisted living helps senior citizens who do not want to live all by themselves when children are alone. Retirement community market has boomed, but there are pros and cons here as well. The sector needs regulation.

Healthcare options for old people mushroom, but reliable service is an issue

December 26, 2018 Navya P K

There are care managers who act like “virtual sons and daughters” who offer professional healthcare assistance. Bengaluru is seeing the boom in elder care service market right now. The dependability of the service depends mostly on cost.

Caring for elderly citizens: What is the scene in Bengaluru?

December 19, 2018 Navya P K

They cannot work anymore, have no income, their health is failing. Their children do not live with them and are unable to help them with medical treatments and care. What facilities do the elderly in Bengaluru have?

How volunteer teachers are making a difference in Bengaluru’s govt schools

November 15, 2018 Navya P K

Teaching, helping with infrastructure support like labs and play areas has helped push enrollment and learning outcomes in a few schools. Can they scale and sustain?

What ails Bengaluru’s government schools?

November 14, 2018 Navya P K

With everyone including people belonging to high and low income sectors preferring private schools, government schools are seeing low enrolment and even closure. Who is to blame? What’s going on?

Is integration without displacement possible at Cantonment metro station?

December 13, 2017 Navya P K

A residents’ group in Benson Town is fearing displacement, as Metro surveys land to change the alignment again. BMRC has not explored options to avoid displacement in the original alignment.

Cantonment metro station: BMRC – Railways standoff continues

December 12, 2017 Navya P K

BMRC has been silent for months, even as citizens questioned the rationale behind the change of Cantonment metro station location. The silence continues and many questions remain, and a residents’ group has now got involved.

Dengue reduced to a “common” viral disease in Bengaluru

September 25, 2017 Navya P K

With improved reporting mechanisms, the official number of people getting affected with dengue is nearing the real numbers. Meanwhile, fatality of dengue fever has decreased, according to doctors.

Bengaluru’s Mayors: What they can do, what they have done

September 14, 2017 Navya P K

Bengaluru is gearing up for Mayor election yet again. Did you know that the Mayor of Bengaluru can do many things, despite all limitations that the post has?

All you want to know about Indira Canteens

August 22, 2017 Navya P K

Count-down tickers and CCTV cameras will be used for monitoring Indira canteens, but BBMP Health Department officials will still have a major role in the daily functioning of Indira canteens. Here is how the system will work.

Traffic cops, children worst hit by Bengaluru’s air pollution

September 29, 2016 Navya P K

Air pollution in Bengaluru has reached levels that are causing many to leave the city on health grounds. Navya PK looks at various studies that outline the shocking impact on citizens and some particularly vulnerable groups.

BDA keeps steel flyover on hold after drawing flak from citizens

June 30, 2016 Navya P K

Citizens, architects and urban experts have criticised this project. The ambitious steel flyover project is on hold for now.

Why we don’t know what diseases affect Bangaloreans

April 24, 2016 Navya P K

Little data is available on what ails Bengalureans. But the available data on cancer, shows increased lung cancer due to air pollution. Nobody knows what other factors are affecting the health of Bengalureans.

No studies, no data: air pollution continues to haunt Bengaluru

April 20, 2016 Navya P K

Anecdotes and basic studies show air pollution causes lung diseases in Bengaluru. But, nobody is collecting the data that can support strong measures to curb pollution.

When micro-finance and self help groups make things worse for poor in Bengaluru

October 26, 2015 Navya P K

How effective are micro-finance institutions in helping the poor in Bengaluru deal with their crises? Do self help groups really help? What is the downside?

Here’s why bank loans aren’t meant for Bengaluru’s poor

October 12, 2015 Navya P K

Poor in Bengaluru trapped in the vicious circle of money-lending are unable to get bank loans. Structurally the poor are designed to be left out of the banking system, as banks cannot determine either their ability or intent to repay loans.

Bengaluru’s slum dwellers: trapped, bankrupt and poor forever

October 5, 2015 Navya P K

While most of us don’t understand why poorest of the poor in the society remain so for decades, here is a reality check that reveals the darker side of the story: an atrocious circle of borrowing, spending and borrowing again, to make ends meet, and remaining poor forever.