Economy | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

Will your neighbourhood grocery store recover from COVID lockdown?

May 5, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty

Neighbourhood shops selling essentials have stayed open during lockdown, but even they have suffered severe losses. Disrupted supply chain, extremely low footfalls, lack of movement passes and home delivery staff meant they have a long road to recovery.

Bengaluru’s poor, now out of cash, want pawn shops reopened

May 4, 2020 Pranshu Rathee

Under normal circumstances, the poor would find a way out by borrowing amongst themselves. But this is not an option as everyone is under severe distress.

Street vendors demand relief, offer support to govt in tackling COVID-19

April 23, 2020 Vinay Sreenivasa

Even as they demand relief, street vendors in Bengaluru are offering to support the government by running community kitchens and delivering essentials to households.

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