GENRE: In Focus Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

The pedestrian is a nobody: Bengaluru’s footpath story

September 3, 2020 Josephine Joseph

Bengaluru invests crores in road construction, but very little in footpaths and pedestrian crossings. Why are pedestrians so neglected?

Bengaluru’s lost crop varieties: How we are missing out on local, nutritious food

August 24, 2020 Apekshita Varshney

Many local, nutritious food varieties in Bengaluru have nearly disappeared over time. While millets like ragi are now making a comeback, there are still several crops we have not even heard of.

Is the axing of 5,000 trees for road widening around Bengaluru justified?

August 21, 2020 Siddhant Kalra

Bengaluru only has around 3% of its green cover left. Can the city cope if 5,000 trees in its periphery are chopped off for yet another road widening project?

5,000 trees to go for widening roads around Bengaluru, says Forest Dept. But is that all?

August 20, 2020 Siddhant Kalra

Though the Forest Department says 5000-odd trees have to axed for the ‘Bangalore Surrounding Roads Project’, data discrepancies makes this number suspect. Secrecy around the project has made citizen engagement nearly impossible too.

ಲೆಕ್ಕಕ್ಕುಂಟು ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆಗಿಲ್ಲ: ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕೋವಿಡ್ ಹಾಸಿಗೆಗಳ ಸಂಖ್ಯಾಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ

August 14, 2020 Siddhant Kalra

ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸುವ ‘ಲಭ್ಯವಿರುವ ಹಾಸಿಗೆಗಳ ಪಟ್ಟಿ’ ಕೇವಲ ‘ನಿರೀಕ್ಷೆಯ ಪಟ್ಟಿ’

Lack of guidelines, standardisation turn Bengaluru footpaths into deathtraps

August 13, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty

Why are the majority of footpaths in Bengaluru unusable? A major reason is that these are built as per the discretion of the local engineer and contractor, without adhering to any specific standards.

Why Bengaluru hospitals are refusing to admit COVID patients

August 8, 2020 Siddhant Kalra

Many private hospitals that the government empanelled for COVID treatment don’t have the necessary staff and facilities. Also, despite government orders, hospitals are only willing to treat patients who are routed by BBMP.

Does Bengaluru really have 13,000 hospital beds for COVID?

August 4, 2020 Siddhant Kalra

Government data shows that over 13,200 hospital beds in Bengaluru are reserved for COVID patients. But the actual number is likely around 3,500.

Post-COVID working conditions could be more exploitative for informal workers

July 18, 2020 Pragathi Ravi

Predicting that informal workers in urban centres could take longer to bounce back from the effects of the lockdown, experts suggest a slew of measures that can mitigate their difficulties.

P.S.: Padarayanapura candidates need not apply

July 15, 2020 Bhanutej N

After Padarayanapura’s long COVID ‘seal-down’, its residents are unable rebuild their lives, thanks to enduring stigma and a battered local economy.

Unlock 1.0: Are safety measures in Bengaluru restaurants, shops adequate?

June 27, 2020 Pragathi Ravi

The number of COVID cases in Bengaluru has been sharply rising of late. The city’s commercial establishments do have some safety measures in place, but are these enough?

Banning domestic workers, forcing quarantine: Can your apartment RWA make these ‘special’ COVID rules?

June 19, 2020 Siddhant Kalra

From banning domestic workers to forcing additional quarantine on residents, many RWAs have made their own rules. The legality of these rules is highly questionable, but BBMP Commissioner says he won’t interfere.

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