Health | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

How well is Karnataka govt dealing with the COVID-19 crisis?

March 29, 2020 Pranshu Rathee

In just three weeks, COVID-19 has severely impacted life in Bengaluru. What issues have cropped up during this period, and how well has the State responded to these?

Bengaluru Buzz: Lockdown tensions | Passes for commute | Pourakarmikas under stress…and more

March 28, 2020 News Desk

As the city copes with the lockdown, there’ve been concerns about passes for commute, availability and price of essential commodities, and so on. Read more in our weekly roundup.

Precautions against corona: BBMP issues order on apartments, layouts

March 25, 2020 News Desk

BBMP has ordered that several measures be implemented in apartments and layouts to prevent corona spread. These include fumigation, thermal screening of those entering/exiting premises, and so on.

BBMP sets up ‘war room’ to contain corona

March 24, 2020 News Desk

BBMP has set up a ‘war room’ to prevent the spread of coronavirus and create awareness. The 24X7 war room will keep track of quarantined people, collect data, map affected areas, and so on.

COVID-19 lockdown: Informal workers most affected, survey recommends Rs 21,000 cr relief

March 24, 2020 Bhanutej N

The objective of the survey, conducted through 65 telephonic interviews on March 21 and 22, was to ensure that the adverse impact of the lockdown on marginal communities in the city is mitigated.

Coronavirus advisory: For Paying Guest accommodations and hostels

March 23, 2020 News Desk

Last week, when some students were evicted from PG accommodations, BBMP clarified that this wasn’t allowed. But BBMP did issue an advisory on how these accommodations should be maintained in view of coronavirus cases. Here are the details.

Coronavirus advisory: For markets and shopping centres

March 23, 2020 News Desk

What precautions can supermarkets take, to prevent the spread of coronavirus? And how can you, as a customer, cooperate? Here’s an advisory from BBMP.

Coronavirus advisory: On accessing parks in Bengaluru

March 20, 2020 News Desk

Given Bengaluru’s efforts to contain coronavirus, should you be accessing parks and green spaces? In case you do, what precautions should you take? Here is an advisory from BBMP.

“Pourakarmikas are our defence against corona; here’s how to keep them (ergo all of us) safe”

March 19, 2020 Bhargavi S Rao

Pourakarmikas are our first line of defence against COVID-19. But they don’t have the right equipment, facilities to maintain personal hygiene, or health check-ups to ensure they’re neither infected nor unwittingly spreading the disease.

Check your home’s fire safety, take part in the ‘iamfiresafe’ campaign

March 18, 2020 Uday Vijayan

Now that many Bengalureans are working from home, the citizen group Beyond Carlton has launched a campaign for residents to check the fire safety of their homes.

Will vendors’ eviction make street food in Bengaluru safer?

March 13, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty

In the last few days, street food businesses were evicted following the cholera scare. For what food safety violations has BBMP shut them down? And will this force vendors to stick to standards?

Cholera cases in Bengaluru: Here’s how you can stay safe

March 12, 2020 Mukul Saxena

Though cholera can be deadly, its prevention is relatively easy. Here is a guide on the disease, treatment, risks and preventive strategies.

“All government hospitals in Bengaluru should have a burns ward”: Beyond Carlton

February 24, 2020 Uday Vijayan

For a population of over one crore, Bengaluru has only two hospitals that have a specialised burns unit. On Saturday, Beyond Carlton collective appealed to the government to set up such units in government hospitals across the state.

“Monitoring food safety: Why BBMP, not Central authorities, should be in charge”

February 20, 2020 Rhea Reddy L

Food that’s of poor quality or is laden with pesticides continues to affect our health. But the Central authority FSSAI is unable to conduct enough food quality checks. Central regulations also discourage local crop varieties and farming practices.

Workplace hazards: How traffic cops are affected by pollution, stress and fatigue

February 19, 2020 Siddhant Kalra

A 2016 study found that one in three traffic policemen in Bengaluru have reduced lung function. In addition to physical ailments, they are also vulnerable to traffic accidents and mental health issues.

Health insurance for informal workers: What are the options available?

December 17, 2019 Bindu Gopal Rao

Informal workers spend a large part of their income to avail healthcare. But there are various government and other insurance schemes that offer them health cover. Here are the details of these schemes

Bangalore Apartments’ Federation to launch health insurance for domestic workers

November 22, 2019 News Desk

Bangalore Apartments’ Federation (BAF), which represents one lakh flats in the city, will launch a group insurance scheme for all domestic workers on November 24th

Illegal garbage disposal: Bengaluru’s SWM Marshals to go digital in levying fines

October 16, 2019 Harsha Raj Gatty

Since last month, BBMP’s SWM Marshals have been issuing steep fines to those who don’t segregate garbage, litter streets etc. The Marshals will soon get handheld devices for better enforcement

Am I paying taxes to get killed?

September 17, 2019 Sakuntala Narasimhan

Bengaluru is beset with rotting garbage, killer potholes and increasing dengue cases. Yet the BBMP is planning a steep hike in property taxes. So should we pay?

Clean Air Summit discusses health impacts of air pollution

August 24, 2019 News Desk

Air pollution can contribute to premature death from cardiovascular and other diseases. But how these health impacts can be communicated effectively to the public, and how pollution can be studied better, were among the topics discussed at the Clean Air Summit