Articles by News Desk

Domestic workers protest. Pic: Navya P K An appeal from DWRCDear Sir/Madam, We are working closely with the Labour Department and will be collecting the data to enrol workers for RSBY health insurance. Our organisation is also part of the National Advisory Committee (NAC) task force on domestic workers at the centre and working on the draft policy for domestic workers. We request concerned Resident Welfare Associations for support and give us permission to collect the details, fill up the forms for the RSBY scheme. We have to complete our process by December 31st. -Geeta MenonDomestic Workers Rights Collective (DWRC)…

Starting with the holiday weekend of December 24th-25th, OfferGrid, a distribution network for service and product deals for publishers is powering local deals on Citizen Matters, Bangalore's interactive newsmagazine. Deals from over 17 categories ranging from health care and dance classes to dining and education are available for nearly 24 localities in Bengaluru, at the time of launch on December 24th. All major major localities such as Jayanagar, Indiranagar, Koramangala, Malleshwaram, etc, are covered. The deals are available for readers on the Citizen Matters home page, article pages, events pages and more. Launched in Q3 2011, OfferGrid Exchange is the…

Residents of Raja Rajeshwari Nivas apartment complex in Bommanahalli, had decided to dig two borewells to sort out the seven-month long water problem. But when the work started on Monday, they were in for a rude shock. Some goons landed there with weapons demanding the work be stopped. They threatened the residents and broke the glass windows in order to convince them they don't need to dig the borewell. Bommanahalli is off Hosur Road just south of the Silkboard intersection.  Police constable stands vigil as the borwell digging continues Pic: Padmalatha Ravi. Residents allege that Mohan Reddy, a local water…

Road is to be widened for 3.3 kms between Yeshwanthpur circle (NH4) and Cauvery junction in Bellary road (NH7), via CNR Rao circle, Maramma Temple circle, Sankey tank road and Bhashyam circle. The entire stretch would be made a six-lane road of 30 m width. BBMP will cut 501 trees and acquire 27,590 sq m of land during the project. Total project cost is around Rs 33 cr. BBMP held a Bhoomi Pooja for Sankey road widening on December 7th. Last week High Court had given BBMP the go-ahead for widening. Pic: BBMP Work on the stretch is divided into…

Environment Support Group (ESG), a Bangalore-based group that focuses on environmental and social justic issues, has won the 2011 Gold Award in the category of 'Best Green Water Stewardship' at the 6th International Green Awards. ESG won the award for its ongoing "Collaborative Initiative for the Wise Use, Conservation and Protection of Lakes" in Bangalore, India. Pic courtesy: International green awards "This recognition has been possible only because of the committed efforts of the small and dedicated staff at ESG, and the unstinting support extended by our families, strong network of volunteers and well-wishers," said Leo Saldanha, coordinator at ESG.The…

BBMP South officials and Health department officials raided 6 bars, restaurants, canteens and chaat shops in Chickpet area and confiscated about 1 lakh worth of Tobacco leaves and Ganja used in smoking pipes (Hookah). Seized Hookahs. Pic: BBMP These outlets had obtained licenses to run food business but were selling these illegalproducts in the same premises. The vicinity is dotted with a lot of schools and colleges. Some residents had complained to the authorities on seeing few students visiting these joints.⊕

Tennis enthusiasts usually busy with their corporate jobs got a chance to pull out their racquets from storage cupboards. Aces and smashes from the corporate sector are on full swing at the Bulldog Tennis Academy, Kanakapura Road with the ongoing Inter Corporate Tennis Championship (ICTC) 2011. The month-long tennis tournament, which started on November 5th, is probably the first and the only one of its kind in the country that offers players from the corporate sector an opportunity to compete at different play levels. Says Ronnie Sehgal, founder of Bulldog Tennis Academy that is conducting the tournament, "the goal is…

While many apartments in the city are taking baby steps with waste recycling initiatives, Tungabhadra block of National Games Village apartments, Koramangala, has generated about Rs 1 lakh in the last seven months with its waste recycling project. Recyclathon - Best Waste Wise Apartments Championship - National Games Village. Pic: Vani Murthy The 220 apartment block won the championship in the ‘Best Waste Wise Apartment (100-250 unit category)’ award in the Recyclathon awards on November 13th. Recyclathon was organised as part of the Bangalore Recycling Habba 2011, a series of events across the city, during November 1st to 13th. The…

Last week Amulya Somashekhar, her mother Asha and a friend were charged for allegedly assaulting a Banaswadi traffic police inspector. Asha Somasekhar is a volunteer with the Bangalore chapter of India Against Corruption (IAC). Two days later, the case took a new turn with IAC getting involved in the issue. IAC, as readers will know is the organising group behind the Anna Hazare-led movement for the Jan Lokpal bill. Intervening in the matter, IAC representatives met the Additional Comissioner of Police Suneel Kumar (IPS) and gave the police department a petition for the constitution of a Police Complaints Authority. "IAC…

BBMP has started work on 40 km long cycling lane in Jayanagar at a cost of 259 lakh rupees. MLA B N Vijaykumar flagged off the work on cycle lane. Pic: BBMP Work will commence from 9 November and is scheduled to be completed by 8 February, 2012 within a span of 3 months. Lane markings will be done along the roads and elevated crossing will be constructed for movement of cyclists and pedestrians. Sign boards will be put up at all the junctions and roads. Cyclists can use these designated lanes and avoid using the main road. Map indicating…