City: Bengaluru

Kasa - Rasa center. Pic: Pinky Chandran "There was a time when I didn't have enough food to eat. Now I am so busy that I don't have enough time for food," says Krishna, once a waste picker, now runs  Domlur Dry Waste Collection Center Ward no 112, and employs six people. Krishna is one of the many informal waste sector workers that run the Dry Waste Collection Centers (DWCC) in Bengaluru. DWCCs were set up following a Lok Adalat’s intervention directing the Municipality to set up these centers to enable ward level recycling in 2010. The Karnataka High Court…

For the first time in Bengaluru, the Walk to School (W2S) program was conducted successfully in Sanjaynagar. 1,500 children from six schools participated in the program by walking to school from their homes on Saturday November 5th. Those living further away and typically travelling by bus or other vehicles, were dropped off at common points a few kilometres away, and walked to school in groups. Pic: Manju George It was surprising to see that instead of complaining that they had to wake up early and walk to school on a cold morning, the children were excited and happy to walk.…

Smitha, a resident of Malleshwaram, has put her wet and dry waste together in the plastic as usual near the gate. After a while, the calling bell rings. She opens the door to see the garbage autowallah who takes away the waste silently everyday. Today is however different. He tells her, “Amma, please segregate waste, don’t put wet and dry waste together. We have been instructed to tell people this, and there will be fine if you put mixed waste together.” Everyday he does the segregation himself using his own hands, but hereafter it is the residents themselves who have…

Enfold, as part of its annual events around observing World Day Against Child Abuse (November 19th), organised a panel discussion on November28th. When child sexual abuse (CSA) is reported in school, its ‘safe-space’ reputation can quickly become a hotbed of suspicion and panic, attracting media glare. In this emotionally charged situation, the best interests of the child and family, and adherence to the POCSO Act (The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012), and Karnataka State CPP (Child Protection For Educational Institutions) often recedes. Representations from stakeholders, related to school spaces, discussed about the systems and protocols on how…

I am not one for waxing nostalgic along the lines of “then and all, life was very simpall … now-man-days, it is all rotten sar, rotten means rotten only!” For me, history, personal history, is more often than not something to look upon with a certain amusement. Often, it is nice to revisit the past and draw whatever energy it can offer. I remember that childhood alliances and friendships were made and broken and re-made on momentous grounds. Take for example: matches. Not cricket matches, or the actual arsonist implements ex of Sivakasi. I refer to the labels that were…

People find it easy and cheap to use plastic carry bags. Pic: Shree D N Smitha is a homemaker in Malleshwaram, Bengaluru. Every time her husband gets vegetables from the market in lightweight white plastic carry bag, she saves it carefully. Everyday she puts one such plastic carry bag into the wastebin in her kitchen. She ties the carry bag with the wet and dry waste neatly and puts it for disposal everyday, for the BBMP garbage auto to take it away. Smitha doesn’t care about what happens to this carry bag later—that it might end up in an animal’s stomach…

Evangelical Social Action Forum (ESAF) in association with Citizens for Sustainability (CiFoS) with the support of B.PAC is organising the Walk to School on Saturday Program (WSS) to encourage children to adopt the Active and Safe Routes to School (ASRTS) initiative. File pic. Pic: Shree D N Six schools in Sanjay Nagar will participate in this initiative which is bring organised on December 5th 2015. Background Active commuting has reduced in the recent days due to many reasons. Lack of last mile connectivity and inadequate public transport have paved way for the increase in use of private vehicles. Even the…

  Bengaluru this week December 3rd 2015     CITIZEN MATTERS Bangalore's own interactive newsmagazine Speak up, it's your city!     We pride ourselves on featuring the work of those Bengalureans who have been working hard to make a difference to the city and the community at large. It is to ensure that we continue to enable these changemakers that we are reaching out to you for help. 5,000 or 10,000 Rupees (or any amount that works for you) - your donation will #EnableChange and help us support Bengaluru's amazing people! Online Donation | Cheque or NEFT | More info…

Chennai is fighting the worst rain in a hundred years and the floods are causing unimaginable devastation and tragedy. Many are watching the tragedy and the fightback live on television and internet and wondering how they can help. The Centre has sent the army and naval forces for rescue work. All modes of travel to the city have been shut down. Event as the Met Department has warned of more rains for next four days, reservoirs are overflowing and the deluge is likely to increase. This tragedy has brought out most unlikely scenes, thus proving once again that humanity is…

What goes missing in most of the conversation around the issues with infrastructure in Bengaluru, is the impact it has on children. The school transportation system in the Whitefield area has taken a big hit. Children travel for several hours to cover a short distance. They are unable to reach their respective classes on time. Some of them miss the first class at school, some others try to save time by skipping breakfast. Due to the exposure to the dust during their commute, they are prone to developing respiratory problems. The bumpy rides take a toll on their slender spine.…