Articles by Manasi Paresh Kumar

The idea of an equal world for men and women is still Utopian, but there are some strides made every day. But for trans women, a world with equal rights is an even more distant reality. On International Women’s Day, as we discuss equality for all, a chat with Bengaluru’s Sumangali Balakrishna and her fight for rights as a trans woman.

Did you know that the Prime Minister’s vision of a free-wifi Varanasi faces major disruption because of monkeys that chew up the cables regularly? Or that even the elite in Lutyens’ Delhi have to battle the menace every day? Here’s a look at a pressing urban problem that hardly gets the attention it calls for.

Indian city roads witness a David-Goliath tussle everyday between cycles and motorised transport. And the latter still holds a big advantage. As more and more cities formally launch bike sharing programmes, will the commoner take to cycling in a big way, given the safety concerns?

Out of 27 projects proposed by these twin cities in North Karnataka under the Smart Cities Mission, only one has gotten off to a start. An interview with the Special Officer of the SPV on the challenges and overall progress so far.

At the Siddharoodha Matha in Hubli, the community kitchen cooks for and feeds almost 6000 people everyday. Yet, hardly any waste from it reaches the landfills.

Substance abuse, most notably smoking, alcoholism and narcotics, is a huge menace in the Indian context today, often among kids as young as 12 years! A guide to dealing with this, based on pointers from a Bengaluru-based medical expert.

You too can join Srishti Bakshi, as she continues on her 3800-km journey on foot, mobilising and empowering women and girls in the cities and towns that she passes through.