Governance | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

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.

Volunteers delivering relief kits to the needy. Pic: Hasiru Dala/Facebook

‘WithBengaluru’ collective delivers over 11,000 ration kits to the poor, asks CM to solve the larger crisis

April 17, 2020 Vinay Sreenivasa

‘WithBengaluru’, a collective of individuals and organisations, has distributed over 11,000 ration kits to vulnerable people in Bengaluru during the lockdown. They have now asked the Chief Minister to take a specific set of measures, so as to tackle the food crisis.

No salary, no free ration: Namma Metro workers struggle during lockdown

April 16, 2020 Ekta Mittal

Workers who build Namma Metro are living in crammed rooms, unable to follow social distancing during the lockdown. A recent study shows that most of them haven’t got salaries for February and March, and aren’t getting free rations.

Food packets being distributed at Indira Canteens to the poor and needy in Ward 91, Shivajinagar, and Ward 18, Ramakrishna Temple. Pic: Twitter handle of BBMP Mayor Goutham Kumar

Here’s how you can help your community during the lockdown in under 5 minutes

April 16, 2020 News Desk

Citizen Matters and Wipro Foundation are jointly conducting a survey to collect data on the services available to vulnerable communities during the lockdown. Read on to find the survey form and more details.

“COVID-19 scenario escalated too quickly, caught us off-guard”: Karnataka police chief Praveen Sood

April 15, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty

The police has received both appreciation and criticism for its enforcement of the lockdown. In this candid interview, DG&IGP Praveen Sood says they weren’t prepared for the situation and are still learning and adapting.

A hundred years ago, Bengaluru beat the plague; here’s how

April 14, 2020 Vaishnavi Bala

Over a century ago, Bengaluru faced the plague, a far bigger threat than COVID-19 today. But the administration’s proactive, well-planned measures not just saved the city but also strengthened its public health system.

Bengaluru Buzz: COVID contingency plan | Two BBMP wards sealed | Cops warn against fake news…and more

April 11, 2020 News Desk

State government has prepared a contingency plan in case COVID-19 cases blow up. Preparations are being made by projecting that there’d be 10,000 cases by April end. Read more in our roundup.

“Govt must share health data, consult with civil society before exiting lockdown”

April 10, 2020 Dr Sylvia Karpagam

The COVID-19 lockdown has had severe impacts on the lives of Bengalureans. Hence, before deciding on the lockdown exit strategy, the state government should be transparent about its rationale and should involve various stakeholders.

How ward committees can help Bengaluru handle COVID-19 better

April 10, 2020 Ankit Bhargava

Bengalureans will likely have to deal with the effects of COVID-19 for long. By setting up Disaster Management Cells at the ward level, we can ensure that everyone stays safe and that their needs are met.

COVID-19 lockdown: Is universalising PDS the need of the hour?

April 10, 2020 Pranshu Rathee

In an emergency like the present, the state should ensure that the poor — estimated to be around 20 lakh in Bengaluru — have access to its public distribution system. Interestingly, the Food and Civil Supplies Department says there are only 16 lakh ration cards in the city. This, while there is enough to feed all for 15 months, say experts.

Ten pointers on easing Bengaluru out of COVID-19 lockdown

April 9, 2020 T R Gopalakrishnan

The administration will soon have to take tough decisions on gradually easing the lockdown and restarting the economy. But this isn’t going to be easy. Here are some pointers on how the lockdown can be relaxed in Bengaluru.

Social Distancing Vs Curfew: Policing a Contagion

April 8, 2020 Bhanutej N

India’s police force has performed its fair share of duties in times of emergencies. But nothing in its experience prepared it for what the prime minister announced on the night of March 24, three hours before it came into force: a 21-day nation-wide lockdown.

Bengaluru Buzz: City among top COVID hubs | Buses for essential service providers | Food supply to migrants…and more

April 4, 2020 News Desk

Bengaluru has been declared as a COVID-19 hotspot, and it’s dealing with several issues – food supply to migrant labourers, vehicles on the road despite lockdown, and even abandoned animals in pet shops. Read more in our weekly roundup.