Explainers | Citizen Matters

Life without plastic: Mumbaikars prepare to show the way

June 25, 2018 Arathi Manay Yajaman

The Maharashtra plastic and thermocol ban kicks in today. What is banned? What can happen if you violate the ban? And most importantly, what are your alternatives? A look at how the average Mumbaikar is preparing for life without plastic.

How to use consumer laws against shops selling goods above MRP

June 8, 2018 Daksha Hathi

Nobody can sell anything above Maximum Retail Price (MRP). If they do, they can be sued. Many cases of people who won the MRP battle, explained here.

Plastic and pollution: How much do you know?

June 5, 2018 Shilpi Sahu

This Environment Day, test your own knowledge! This quiz is for you if you want to be aware of how much you know about plastics.

Where does the plastic waste in Indian cities go?

June 2, 2018 Garima Prasher

A reality check on the plastic waste management practices of major Indian cities shows that there has been limited success of anti-plastic policies, even as the country gears up to host World Environment Day 2018, with the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution”.

Nipah virus: How to avoid infection and fever

May 23, 2018 Revathi Siva Kumar

Bats are being culled, every case of fever is scrutinised carefully. But the nation has one lab which certifies the cases of Nipah. What does a citizen need to know about Nipah?

Whitewashed roofs or Whatsapp alerts: How is your city planning to beat the heat this summer?

April 30, 2018 Harsha Raj Gatty

IMD spells a gruelling summer ahead with temperatures 0.5°C to 1°C higher than the long term average. From Ahmedabad to Nagpur to Hyderabad, what are cities doing to minimise heat-related casualties?

Three ways in which the new Motor Vehicles law could make our roads safer

April 25, 2018 Revathi Siva Kumar

The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2016, if enacted into law, could have helped to reduce road accidents. But it remains a casualty itself of an indefinitely adjourned Parliament.

India’s new plastic management rules go soft on industry, betray environment

April 19, 2018 Laasya Shekhar

India generates around 25,940 tonnes of plastic waste every day, but the amended rules for its management provide no road map towards reduction. If anything, it only gives the FMCG industry cause for cheer, say environmentalists.

Want to make your city safer? Don’t be a passive bystander!

April 4, 2018 Revathi Siva Kumar

What do you do when you see an accident victim on the street, unconscious and bleeding? Or when the young girl opposite you in the bus is being evidently harassed? Can you, as a bystander, intervene and help?

Pune, Hyderabad bank on municipal bonds, but why are Kochi and Surat dithering?

April 2, 2018 Navya P K

The Centre has been actively promoting municipal bonds as a source to fund development of cities, but those with lower credit ratings may not find it a very smooth option to raise money through the same.

What every highway driver should know about FASTag

March 24, 2018 Rakesh Dubbudu

In 2014, the government launched FASTag in order to provide for seamless movement at toll plazas. But what do rules say about cars without FASTag getting into fast lanes? And what is the latest take on that by the Parliamentary Standing Committee?

Let World Water Day remind us how we can avoid the Cape Town fate

March 22, 2018 Odette Katrak

Wherever we are, most of use far more water than needed. And then we wait for someone else to solve the city’s water problems. Let’s change that today, and it’s really easy with these tips.

Measuring air pollution: An illustrated guide to all those terms you keep hearing

March 21, 2018 Dr. Sarath Guttikunda

What is ambient air pollution? How is ambient monitoring different from emissions monitoring? How useful are low cost monitors? A citizen’s guide to pollution monitoring related terms and their real significance in improving air quality.

Five water-friendly alternatives to prevent your city from becoming another Cape Town

March 16, 2018 Bhavani Prabhakar

Products we use every day affect our water footprint to a large extent. As summer approaches, and the fear of water shortage rises in our cities, here are a few switches that can help save the precious resource and avert crisis.

Mumbai farmers have gone back, but can our cities afford to forget them?

March 14, 2018 Revathi Siva Kumar

Roses, food and water for protesting farmers are all fine, but the nation’s policy makers and city residents must not forget what led to the rally. Time to realize that without a strong rural Bharat, urban India is doomed.

Holding your telecom operator accountable

February 9, 2018 Navya P K

Consumer complaints are extremely common in the telecom sector. Here is what you should know about operators’ obligations and how you can hold them accountable.

Cheated while shopping online? Here’s what you can do

January 9, 2018 Navya P K

As e-commerce and the virtual marketplace become increasingly popular, here are some tips on how to shop smart online, and what to do if you have complaints.

How Aadhaar hit the headlines in 2017

December 30, 2017 Shree D N

Love it or hate it, you can’t ignore Aadhaar. The number of people covered under UID has grown. So have the controversies and concerns around it. A quick recap

The cheated customer’s guide to fighting back

December 11, 2017 Navya P K

Caught in a situation where goods or services you bought have not lived up to the promises made? Getting redressal and compensation under the Consumer Protection Act could be easier than you think.

A guide to safe investment options post retirement

December 8, 2017 Revathi Siva Kumar

Traditionally considered safe, fixed deposits have been a favourite among retired citizens, but with plummeting returns from these, they may now wish to consider more useful options.