News | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

Podcast: What makes citizen activism in Bengaluru unique

May 21, 2020 Grace Madigan

Bengaluru has a extraordinarily large number of citizen activists working to make the city more liveable. Listen to our podcast on how these groups evolved and what they’ve been doing.

What Lockdown 4.0 relaxations mean for Bengaluru

May 21, 2020 Vikram Rai

With phase 4 of the lockdown, several restrictions have been relaxed in Bengaluru. Here’s an explainer on what these relaxations are.

Podcast: Why we need to plant more native tree species in Bengaluru

May 20, 2020 Grace Madigan

Bengaluru has lost much of its natural vegetation to urbanisation. Majority of trees that do remain, cannot protect the city from heat island effects or climate change.

BMTC/KSRTC services resume partially during Lockdown 4.0

May 19, 2020 News Desk

BMTC resumed services partially on May 19, but with several conditions. KSRTC has started inter-district services too.

“Karnataka should strengthen labour laws, not weaken them”: AICCTU

May 19, 2020 Clifton D'rozario

The trade union AICCTU has written to the state government, asking not to proceed with its plans to dilute labour laws. Rather, these laws should be strengthened so that workers affected by the lockdown are protected, the union said.

Podcast: Why citizen groups alone can’t save Bengaluru’s dying lakes

May 19, 2020 Grace Madigan

In Bengaluru, neighbourhood citizen groups have worked to revive many lakes. While some groups like PNLIT have been successful, some others have failed due to lack of government support and resources.

Arrangements made by BMTC in collaboration with various other agencies to ply migrant workers from Orissa to Chikkabanavara Railway Station during COVID-19 lockdown in Bengaluru. Pic: Twitter handle of BBMP Commissioner BH Anil Kumar

“BMTC should be both safe and affordable during Lockdown 4.0”

May 18, 2020 Vinay Sreenivasa

Low-income groups who have been badly hit by the lockdown, form a large proportion of BMTC users. So, as BMTC resumes services, it should focus not just on safety but also affordability.

Daily wagers struggle for food during lockdown

May 18, 2020 Radio Active 90.4MHz

Gopal, Treasurer of the Karnataka State Construction Workers’ Union, describe how the COVID-19 lockdown has pushed workers into further poverty and desperation.

Explained: Quarantine rules if you travel to Bengaluru

May 17, 2020 Siddhant Kalra

What are the rules for inter-district, inter-state and international travel to Karnataka?

Stuck between govt, builders and contractors, workers court hunger and destitution

May 17, 2020 Navya P K

How well did builders in Bengaluru support migrant workers during lockdown? And should they have reason to worry at all about the workers’ exodus now?

Bengaluru Buzz: Travellers protest quarantine | BMTC services may resume | Incentive for ASHA workers..and more

May 16, 2020 News Desk

Train passengers from New Delhi protest mandatory institutional quarantine, BMTC mulling restarting services with safety norms, government announces third economic package – read more on news from the city this week, in our roundup.

Podcast: How citizen activists are trying to solve Bengaluru’s garbage problem

May 15, 2020 Grace Madigan

Over the past decade, Bengaluru’s citizen activists were able to push the government to adopt sustainable waste management practices. Though garbage remains an issue in the city, they continue their work with optimism.

Why Bhuvilal Mahato stayed back in Bengaluru

May 14, 2020 Navya P K

Part 1 of this two-part series illustrates that basic human empathy on the part of employers could have prevented the exodus of migrant workers and the humanitarian crisis presently unfolding before our eyes

Podcast Trailer: Lessons from Bengaluru

May 14, 2020 Grace Madigan

Bengaluru is swamped in problems ranging from waste management to climate change, but the city also has a unique, active citizenry that tries to solve these problems. In this podcast series, we look at four major issues in the city and how citizen activists have responded.

Residents of Sobha Ultima in North Bengaluru, distribute ration kits to those in need. Pic: Mamtha B K

Yelahanka apartment community ensures food for 2500 during lockdown

May 13, 2020 Mamtha B K

When a couple of residents in a Yelahanka apartment community sought fellow residents’ help to feed migrant workers, the response was overwhelming.