Economy | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

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.

Can Bengaluru’s street food vendors tide over COVID-19 lockdown?

April 2, 2020 Puja Guha

The compounded effect of the lockdown, cholera-related evictions and the subsequent negative publicity about street food, may deal a severe blow to the thousands of street food vendors in Bengaluru.

Hassled by money lenders and police, Bengaluru’s auto drivers live in poverty

January 22, 2020 Lucy Baker

Bengaluru’s auto drivers are a stigmatised lot, but is there a reason they demand exorbitant fares? Shunned by banks, these drivers are often indebted to money lenders for life

Should Bengaluru have advertisement hoardings?

October 18, 2019 Manasi Paresh Kumar

While BBMP Council wants to ban advertisement hoardings in the city, the state government has come up with its own Rules to allow hoardings. Whose decision should prevail, and why?

“Dear food businesses, areca cutlery and clay pots aren’t eco-friendly”

October 9, 2019 Seema Sharma

Many businesses are opting for areca cutlery, clay pots etc to avoid plastic and be eco-friendly. But these materials are hard to compost, and only add to Bengaluru’s piling waste.

Hundreds of workers from across Karnataka gathered at Karmikara Bhavana to protest against low wages and discrimination. Pic: Vinay Sreenivasa

Garment factory workers protest lack of minimum wages

September 14, 2019 Vinay Sreenivasa

While most workers in Karnataka now get minimum wages of Rs 11,557 per month, garment factory workers are still paid Rs 7000-8000. State government has not increased their wages as per the law, or even after a recent court order

Revenue, environment or aesthetics: What should decide Bengaluru’s ad hoarding policy?

September 4, 2019 Kedar Koushik

A debate has been raging on whether outdoor ads should be permitted in Bengaluru. Can the city bear the revenue loss from hoardings? What about plastic waste from hoardings, or Bengalureans’ wish for a clear view of the city’s skyline?

Advertisement hoardings: What BBMP Council wants vs what the state govt insists on

September 3, 2019 Kedar Koushik

Last year, BBMP Council passed draft ‘bye-laws’ that ban ad hoardings in the city. But the state government recently framed its own ‘Rules’ that allow hoardings. How do these laws differ? Once either of these laws are approved, how would it affect the city?

Classic case of state poking its nose into BBMP: Will Bengaluru have advertisement hoardings?

September 2, 2019 Kedar Koushik

The High Court has upheld BBMP’s new bye-laws that ban hoardings in Bengaluru. But the state government is reluctant to accept the order. Does this mean Bengaluru will have hoardings again? And why is the state government poking its nose into BBMP’s affairs at all?

Thirsty city tantrums: How Bengaluru’s thirst for water is felt 400 km away

August 9, 2019 Kedar Koushik

To satiate Bengaluru’s unending thirst, water has been diverted from many rivers, including those from the Western Ghats. But these projects are starving local populations of water, and destroying ecosystems

Handbags from milk cartons, plants in coconut shells, and more at Second to None sale

July 31, 2019 Grace Madigan

Bengaluru generates thousands of tonnes of waste everyday, but we can reduce it substantially by using recycled or repurposed products. Here is an account of some interesting recycled products that were sold at an event organised by the volunteer group Second To None, last Saturday

Metal straws, fruit-cups and more: How six Bengaluru restaurants are cutting down waste

July 22, 2019 Grace Madigan

Restaurants generate huge amounts of plastic and other dry waste everyday. Here are innovative methods six Bengaluru restaurants devised, to minimise their waste footprint

“Digging recharge wells is the only way Bengaluru won’t run out of water”

July 21, 2019 Manasi Paresh Kumar

Bovi community who are the traditional well-diggers of Bengaluru, are part of an initiative to build one million recharge wells in the city. In this edition of Citizens Live, Ramakrishna Bovi explains how you too can be part of this initiative to help resolve the city’s water scarcity

Bengaluru’s real estate market up last year; but can apartment construction ban help the water situation?

July 18, 2019 Kedar Koushik

Residential projects are increasing in Bengaluru again, after a slump. Would an apartment construction ban really help the city’s water situation now? How would it affect the economy?

Beer vs water: Bengaluru’s microbreweries in a time of water shortage

July 17, 2019 Grace Madigan

It takes seven litres of water to brew just a litre of beer! But as the city struggles with a water crisis, Bengaluru’s craft microbreweries are finding ways to cut down their water use

Making carpooling legal in Bengaluru – it’s the centre’s job, not state’s

July 3, 2019 Shashank Atreya

The state government has been roundly criticised for banning carpooling and ridesharing in Bengaluru. But it is the central government, not the state, that has powers to amend the Motor Vehicles Act and permit carpooling

Bengaluru’s street vendors: A vibrant community deprived of rights

June 28, 2019 Bhargavi S Rao

Carts of street food that offer a quick snack, little stalls selling just what you were looking for – street vendors are an integral part of life in Bengaluru. But why isn’t the government implementing the law that upholds their right to work?

GAIL plans 100 CNG refill stations in Bengaluru

June 25, 2019 News Desk

GAIL Gas will soon have 13 new CNG refill stations in the city, in addition to nine operational ones. CNG produces lesser emissions, and offer higher savings for all types of vehicles, say GAIL officials

Can a security guard in Bengaluru aspire for more?

June 17, 2019 Deepa Vaishnavi V M

Security guards are ubiquitous in the city. But how well do they earn, and what options for career growth do they have? Here is the story of Merajul Hoque who migrated from Assam five years ago, to be a guard in Bengaluru

Home buyers demand stronger RERA for Karnataka

May 21, 2019 News Desk

Around 200 home buyers protested at the Town Hall this Saturday, demanding better functioning of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) in Karnataka. The protesters said that the Karnataka RERA was allowing builders to get away with illegalities and to even flout its own orders