Governance | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

“Better ward-level governance could have saved Bengaluru’s migrant workers during lockdown”

June 2, 2020 Kathyayini Chamaraj

As per law, Disaster Management Cells in each ward would have been responsible for providing services to migrant workers during lockdown. But thanks to the apathy of authorities, these Cells weren’t even set up initially and still remain ineffective.

Can amended Zonal Regulations protect heritage in Bengaluru?

May 28, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty

Bengaluru has lost many of its heritage sites to rapid urbanisation. Last month, state government amended Zonal Regulations so as to identify and preserve a wide range of heritage sites.

Migrant Workers of Bangalore queuing up to travel home from Malur Station on Shramik Trains

Explained: How can Bengaluru’s migrant workers travel back home

May 21, 2020 Siddhant Kalra

With lakhs of workers wanting to go back to their homes, and limited trains operated by the government, will they stay back in Bengaluru or try other options?

“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.

Bengaluru Buzz: Trains restart for migrants | Rs 1160 cr relief package | Hotels, bars may sell liquor..and more

May 10, 2020 News Desk

Trains for migrants stopped and then resumed, state government’s relief package of Rs 1,160 cr amidst financial crunch – read more on news over the past week, in our roundup.

Can the new BBMP Bill improve governance in Bengaluru?

May 8, 2020 Kathyayini Chamaraj

State government has drafted a BBMP Bill, exclusively for the governance of Bengaluru city. But can this new law solve Bengaluru’s myriad problems?

Lockdown Challenge: How many hungry people are there in Bengaluru?

May 7, 2020 Mohit M Rao

The State had no plan to combat hunger. Authorities capable of verifying voter identity cards in every slum and ghetto in the City, failed to even gauge the scale of food insecurity triggered by the lockdown. The BBMP gave out only 68,000 ration kits whereas NGOs took up a bulk of the task of feeding the hungry. Nobody knows how many went hungry.

As part of efforts to creating awareness and educating house-keeping and security staff to combat COVID-19, BBMP held a session Prestige Langleigh apartment in Ward-83, Kadugodi. Pic: Twitter handle of BBMP Special Commissioner (SWM)

Lockdown 3: BBMP Covid advisory for apartments, resident groups

May 4, 2020 Vikram Rai

What do the lockdown relaxations mean for apartment residents in Bengaluru? Are domestic workers allowed, what about movement relaxations? Here’s an explainer.

Bengaluru Buzz: Lockdown relaxed | Migrant workers leave | Metro workers protest…and more

May 4, 2020 News Desk

With lockdown relaxation, restrictions are gradually being eased in Bengaluru. Read more in our weekly roundup.

“Cities need more decision-making powers to fight COVID-19”

May 2, 2020 Alok Prasanna

In Karnataka, Bengaluru has been worst-hit by COVID-19 crisis, but councillors here have had no say in its management.

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.

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.

BBMP Budget 2020: “Business as usual on a sinking ship”

April 25, 2020 Renuka Viswanathan

A few key items in the 209-page document are enough to reveal the sordid picture. Almost every important graph on the excel sheet is in sharp decline, reflecting disarray in city administration and the pulls and pressures that have prevented it from meeting even the basic needs of the city’s residents.

Bengaluru Buzz: COVID testing scaled up | Home delivery of essentials | BMTC seeks Rs 100 cr to pay staff…and more

April 20, 2020 News Desk

Bengalureans are dealing with a range of problems arising from the lockdown – rising food prices, restrictions in accessing essential commodities, job insecurity and difficulty paying rent. Read the updates on these issues, in our weekly roundup.

COVID-19 lockdown: Migrant workers counted again and again, but where is the relief?

April 19, 2020 Angarika Guha and Senthil S

Authorities have stubbornly refused to acknowledge the number of migrant workers in Bengaluru. Despite multiple surveys of workers, food supply has been erratic. Even when food is distributed, it could be unfit for consumption.