My memories of Neralu, Bangalore’s first crowd funded tree fiesta held in around Cubbon Park on 8th and February 9th 2014.
We walked
and talked
about trees,
birds and bees
There were songs and dances
of green romances
plays, tales
and tree inhales
crafts and arts
seeds and plant parts
hugs galore
for our beloved trees of Bangalore
So, let’s say “1, 2, tree”
And set ourselves free!
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Indian cities are struggling to breathe. Air pollution is a year-round governance challenge. In 2024, 35 of the 50 most polluted cities globally were in India, with PM2.5 concentrations above 66.4 μg/m3. This is at least 13 times the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and at least 1.6 times the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in India. Citizens continue to bear the brunt of worsening air quality, and urban local governments (ULGs) are at the forefront of the problem, being primarily accountable for their citizens' first mile. While they do have a role to play in addressing this threat,…