bangalore journal

With the BBMP polls scheduled to be held this later year, Citizen Matters has obtained a copy of the draft reservation of seats for Schedule Caste (SC), Schedule Tribe (ST), Backward Classes (BC) communities and Women. While the release of the final list is understood to be imminent, this unpublished version was received via Citizens' Action Forum (CAF), a group of citizens and members of Residents Welfare Associations (RWA). Puttanna Chetty Town Hall on JC Road. Pic: Venkatesan Perumal The new and expanded BBMP (city) council when fully constituted will have 198 seats, as opposed to the erstwhile BMP council,…

...so said a friend, partly in anguish, partly in jest, referring to the Principal Secretary of the Government of Karnataka, Department of Health and Family Welfare, IR Perumal! I happened to witness this gentleman speaking at a press conference recently. He was talking about swine flu. He was there to dispel the myths about swine flu and reduce the panic among the public. The one thing about him that would strike you (or anyone) is the capacity of his vocal chords. He's loud! And animated! Well, that's not a bad thing at all. At this particular press conference he was…

Last week, I walking towards JP Nagar 4th phase and I realised that the footpaths were dangerously uneven. I am a student preparing for my competitive exams. I am constantly studying and hence retaining information and staying fit is of primary importance. I was being extra cautious and tried not to slip off any stone slab. As I am thinking about how smart and careful I was, my head collides against a branch of a tree (so much for being careful!!). I would not blame it on my height as I am of average build. It took me a while to recover from the jolt and…

Amidst the colourful displays of dinosaurs, teddy bears and the mermaid, this cacti plant stood out, at the Independence Day Flower Show at Lalbagh. ⊕

Dear Bangaloreans, THIS INDEPENDENCE DAY, LET US LIBERATE OURSELVES FROM GARBAGE! Reclaim Bengaluru is a pan Bengaluru campaign which is an attempt to get Bangaloreans to come out and clean the streets of Bengaluru on the 15th of August, 2009, Independence Day. You can register for this by signing up on the web page www.cbengaluru.com. List of zones for the Clean Bengaluru Campaign:JP Nagar 7th, 8th Phase, RBI Layout, Gaurav Nagar, Novodhaya Nagar, Kothanur, Surabhi Nagar, Nayak Layout - Call Manjunath 9036221288JP Nagar 1st, 2nd Phase, Sarakki – Call Aniruddha 9036571713Srinivasnagar, Hanumanthnagar, Gandhi Bazaar - Call Nishchita 9844465275Padmanabhnagar - Call…

The Bangalore police have tried to create awareness on the effects of drinking and driving by placing a car involved in a real life accident outside malls. This one was spotted outside Garuda mall earlier this month. ⊕

They are young, not necessarily khadi-clad, carry the latest brand of mobile phones and zip in their chauffeur-driven cars. They idolise the likes of Rahul Gandhi and Atal Behari Vajpayee. If not working, you can catch them at PVR or Inox. Meet Bengaluru's young netas, determined to bring about "some much needed change" to the city. In the aftermath of the parliamentary elections there was much newsmedia coverage on the involvement of youth in political campaigning. With dust now having settled and the council election coming up for Bengaluru, Citizen Matters talked to around two dozen youth in the age…

Young, spirited and raring to go. Bangalore's politics has probably never seen so many young faces. Some hail from political families, some young guns running their own firms, a marketing executive, a financial expert, a film producer, some self-made first timers who have worked their on way, and some are students. 2009 may be indeed the year that sets the trend from national to local. Citizen Matters spoke to a number of ‘gennext' politicians and political campaigners on their heeding the call of politics and their outlook for the upcoming council elections. Your future corporator or even MP may be…

Riding on its recent success in Andhra Pradesh, the Lok Satta Party now plans to expand in other states focusing on urban voters in particular. Among the elections the party is looking ahead to is the contest for the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike council, due in a few weeks. In a recent visit to Bengaluru Jayaprakash Narayan founder and President of the party introduced Lok Satta Party to the city. Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, founder of Lok Satta party. Courtesy: Wikimedia "Lok Satta Party is here to bring a new political culture," said Narayan, widely known as JP, adding that the…

Sapaad brigade is a group of food enthusiasts that gather at Koshy's restaurant on St. Mark's road, every Thursday at 1 PM. After the group has gathered, they go visit one pre-selected restaurant which is well known for its food. Usually the restaurants selected are low cost, and relatively obscure. One person from the Sapaad Brigade group is selected to scout for such places and the final list is discussed within the group. By Thursday, a consensus is arrived at, and they spend the afternoon wining and dining at the selected restaurant. Citizen Matters Audio   Download Audio The group…