CITIZEN JOURNALISM | | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

Shut in at home during COVID? Rooftop gardening can give you some respite

July 1, 2020 Sudha Narasimhachar

Most of us are now staying home all the time, but this could be frustrating. Rooftop gardening is a good option for being close to nature without having to go out. Here’s a Bengaluru couple who are doing exactly that.

Iblur lake bedecked with flowers: Volunteer efforts pay off

June 25, 2020 Naresh Sadasivan

Iblur lake, which had once been a toxic cesspool, is now thriving and beautified, thanks to citizen efforts. The lake’s trustees are also planning to develop a Miyawaki forest in the vicinity.

A solution to the traffic mess at Marathahalli junction

June 14, 2020 Subramanya Sheshadri

Marathahalli junction is often riddled with traffic jams, thanks to the convoluted U-turns on the bridge here. Just introducing two traffic signals at the bridge could help solve the problem.

Study: BESCOM transformers poorly maintained, can disrupt power supply

June 10, 2020 Rishu Garg and Mallik E V

A CSTEP study has found that many transformers in Bengaluru are poorly maintained and are not metered. Damaged transformers tend to disrupt power supply and pose a huge financial burden to BESCOM.

“He wanted to get home after lockdown, but death got to him first”

May 28, 2020 Lt Col Biju Ninan Biju

There are many less-known casualties of the COVID-19 lockdown. Among them was a man who lived and died in his makeshift trolley in KR Puram.

“Global cities are promoting cycling during COVID, Bengaluru should too”

May 25, 2020 Sathya Sankaran

Cyclists in Bengaluru are now campaigning for cycling lanes and dedicated cycle-only roads.

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.

Residents of Vasanth Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association (VRWA) step out during the lockdown to distribute relief kits to those in need. Pic: VRWA

How Vasanth Nagar residents quelled hunger in their neighbourhood during lockdown

May 5, 2020 Balasubramanya Ramaswamy

Since the lockdown began, Vasanth Nagar RWA developed a system to procure, pack and supply groceries to those in need. They have distributed 1200 grocery bags so far.

“Bengaluru’s proposed Parking Policy actually encourages private transport”

April 30, 2020 Nagesh Aras

A review of DULT’s draft parking policy proposal highlights many issues – it is not based on data and lacks an implementation strategy. Is it designed to fail, like earlier plans?

This long lockdown could result in severe issues for the elderly, like boredom, depression and other health complications. The elderly need to stay positive and keep themselves engaged. Pic: Luke Dhanaraj

Indoor walks, online meetings and more: How a senior citizen is beating lockdown monotony

April 28, 2020 Luke Dhanaraj

Lockdown can lead to boredom, depression and other health complications for senior citizens. Walking indoors, online engagements etc can help them cope.

Sakuntala, 80, seated on the stage in the yellow saree, interacting with senior citizens at Nightingales Centre in Malleswaram before the nationwide lockdown came into effect. Pic courtesy: Sakuntala Narasimhan

“Middle-class senior citizens left in the lurch during lockdown”

April 28, 2020 Sakuntala Narasimhan

The government had promised much during the lockdown – availability and home delivery of essentials, financial relief for senior citizens, and so on. Yet middle-class senior citizens have been left in the lurch.

How to reform BBMP’s perpetually flawed budgets

April 28, 2020 N S Mukunda

This two-part analysis of BBMP’s budget proposals for the Financial Year 2020 –20 21 points out the reasons why this annual document is flawed, and what the civic body must do to restore its efficacy.

How Bengaluru cyclists are helping the elderly during lockdown

April 27, 2020 Sathya Sankaran

Cyclists across the city are volunteering to distribute groceries and medicines to seniors during lockdown. Here’s how they got together and ramped up the initiative.

Why residents are worried about the upcoming Waste-to-Energy unit in Chikkanagamangala

April 25, 2020 Deepu Chandran

Residents of Chikkanagamangala, near Electronic City, say the project proponent lacks sufficient experience to run such a plant, and that the plant could lead to dangerous levels of pollution in the area.

What are Bengaluru’s MPs and MLAs doing during lockdown?

April 25, 2020 Srinivas Alavilli

During the lockdown, we have seen MPs and MLAs distribute rations, organise home delivery, and so on. But they have a far bigger role – to ensure that the government machinery delivers as promised.