Society | Citizen Matters, Bengaluru

Podcast: What makes citizen activism in Bengaluru unique

May 21, 2020 Grace Madigan

Bengaluru has a extraordinarily large number of citizen activists working to make the city more liveable. Listen to our podcast on how these groups evolved and what they’ve been doing.

What Lockdown 4.0 relaxations mean for Bengaluru

May 21, 2020 Vikram Rai

With phase 4 of the lockdown, several restrictions have been relaxed in Bengaluru. Here’s an explainer on what these relaxations are.

Daily wagers struggle for food during lockdown

May 18, 2020 Radio Active 90.4MHz

Gopal, Treasurer of the Karnataka State Construction Workers’ Union, describe how the COVID-19 lockdown has pushed workers into further poverty and desperation.

Stuck between govt, builders and contractors, workers court hunger and destitution

May 17, 2020 Navya P K

How well did builders in Bengaluru support migrant workers during lockdown? And should they have reason to worry at all about the workers’ exodus now?

Why Bhuvilal Mahato stayed back in Bengaluru

May 14, 2020 Navya P K

Part 1 of this two-part series illustrates that basic human empathy on the part of employers could have prevented the exodus of migrant workers and the humanitarian crisis presently unfolding before our eyes

Residents of Sobha Ultima in North Bengaluru, distribute ration kits to those in need. Pic: Mamtha B K

Yelahanka apartment community ensures food for 2500 during lockdown

May 13, 2020 Mamtha B K

When a couple of residents in a Yelahanka apartment community sought fellow residents’ help to feed migrant workers, the response was overwhelming.

Residents of Vasanth Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association (VRWA) step out during the lockdown to distribute relief kits to those in need. Pic: VRWA

How Vasanth Nagar residents quelled hunger in their neighbourhood during lockdown

May 5, 2020 Balasubramanya Ramaswamy

Since the lockdown began, Vasanth Nagar RWA developed a system to procure, pack and supply groceries to those in need. They have distributed 1200 grocery bags so far.

COVID-19 lockdown: Bengaluru cab drivers in deep financial mess

May 4, 2020 Radio Active 90.4MHz

During lockdown, cab drivers have received no support from the government. They are unable to support their families or pay the EMIs on their vehicles.

“People with disability are worse affected by COVID-19”

May 4, 2020 Radio Active 90.4MHz

People with disability are more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 since they may seek help from others more often. Financial difficulties and lack of accessible information worsen the situation.

On Labour Day, a look into the homes and lives of Namma Metro workers

May 1, 2020 Angarika Guha

Often 12-20 workers are crammed into a 10×10 ft room or even smaller. The rooms are poorly ventilated, and there’s only toilet for over a hundred people in many labour colonies.

Sakuntala, 80, seated on the stage in the yellow saree, interacting with senior citizens at Nightingales Centre in Malleswaram before the nationwide lockdown came into effect. Pic courtesy: Sakuntala Narasimhan

“Middle-class senior citizens left in the lurch during lockdown”

April 28, 2020 Sakuntala Narasimhan

The government had promised much during the lockdown – availability and home delivery of essentials, financial relief for senior citizens, and so on. Yet middle-class senior citizens have been left in the lurch.

How Bengaluru cyclists are helping the elderly during lockdown

April 27, 2020 Sathya Sankaran

Cyclists across the city are volunteering to distribute groceries and medicines to seniors during lockdown. Here’s how they got together and ramped up the initiative.

Farm to Home Networks go into overdrive in locked down Bengaluru

April 24, 2020 Bindu Gopal Rao

Internet-based farm-to-doorstep networks are not new forms of agricultural distribution. Although on a very limited scale, they have proved to be a balm for farmers, at least for the moment. One can only hope that such a model can be scaled up to include more beneficiaries, both on the supply and demand side.

Bengaluru's Silk Board Junction during the COVID-19 lockdown. Pic: Naveeen Thomas Prasad

Here’s how Bengaluru looks during COVID-19 lockdown

April 22, 2020 News Desk

It’s been nearly a month since Bengaluru has been under lockdown. With few people on the streets, the city is both quiet and beautiful now – watch this in two recent drone videos.

COVID-19 lockdown: Bengaluru’s informal workers struggle to meet food, rent expenses

April 22, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty

Domestic workers who aren’t welcome to work anymore, cab drivers and street vendors who can’t go out – informal workers in the city are a frustrated lot as they have no work or wages anymore. Many are unable to meet basic expenses for food and rent.