bangalore

A Mathematics teacher at Corporation Malleswaram High School teaching a 9th standard class. Pic: Shamsheer Yousaf What can we do to improve public schooling, tangibly? Ever since the terrible PU results came out showing more children failing than passing, I've got a lot of letters asking what can be done about this. To my understanding, we need to do at least the following three things, to have any chance of intervening swiftly in the lives of millions of children. Increase the funding levels for education I know we are perfectly capable of wasting money, but even so, without proper investment…

Ganga Madappa, Staff Reporter and Community Manager at Citizen Matters, writes: Here's a side of the Ulsoor lake that not too many people notice. To the left of the kalyani at the lake, is a storm water drain that comes all the way from Richards Town. And along with rain water, it also carries an unimaginable amount of filth. Plastic, clothes, shoes, leaf litter etc make their way into the water. Workers clearing this filth claim to have found even pillows and suitcases...    This alone makes for a strong case for the city authorities to enforce waste segregation.  

The fourth Kere Habba (Lake Festival) of 2015 is all set to take place at Chellakere Lake, HRBR Layout 2nd Block, (behind the Hennur Police Station) on Saturday, 23rd May 2015, 7:30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. Kere Habba is an initiative of The Namma Bengaluru Foundation. Reports/information about the previous three Kere Habbas can be seen on these links - Kere Habba at Kaikondrahalli Lake, Puttenahalli Kere Habba, Madiwala Kere Habba.   The event is being organised to create an awareness of the beautiful 40-acre lake among the people residing in the area. According to people who are working to restore the…

Traffic rearrangement at Adugodi and Madiwala. Pic: BTP Facebook page The new one-way system around Madiwala market introduced by the traffic police in response to the growing challenges of mobility in the area shows how, when we don't have a macro plan, we end up making a series of small adjustments, maybe out of necessity, but not always connected to each other. Here is the link to the image showing the new plan.  Traffic rearrangement at Adugodi and Madiwala Bengaluru traffic police have introduced a one-way system in Madiwala and Adugodi traffic station limits to avoid the traffic congestion and…

Another ‘Cycle Day’ is being organized by Yelahanka United Environment Association (YUVA) in partnership with Directorate of Urban Land Transport, UDD, Government of Karnataka in Yelahanka New Town on Sunday, 12th April 2014, 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The venue is the area next to Allalasandra Lake. Entry is free for all.   The morning will commence with a cycle rally around Allalasandra Lake and the main roads of Yelahanka New Town (around 6.5 km). Around 3000 cyclists, local citizens, Yelahanka MLA, Corporators are expected to participate in this edition of Cycle Day. The students of IEEE Bangalore Section will be the volunteers.   Free…

The focus at Neralu this year was on Trees & Public spaces - including ashwath kattes, neighbourhood parks and streets. Alongside that, MapUnity developed an online platform where people could upload the location of their neighbourhood kattes, with photographs and a story. Please do log on to: Mapping the Ashwath katte if you have something to share about your own neighbourhood katte or one you’ve seen elsewhere. We hope that as we all share our stories about the Ashwath kattes we have seen and help to map them, we may uncover yet another story about the city of Bangalore - a story about its trees, its culture and…

The third Kere Habba (Lake Festival) of 2015 is all set to take place at Madiwala Lake on Saturday, 11th April 2015. The event has been planned in two sessions - morning 6:30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. and evening 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Kere Habba is an initiative of The Namma Bengaluru Foundation. Reports of the previous two Kere Habbas can be seen on these links - Kere Habba at Kaikondrahalli Lake, Puttenahalli Kere Habba.   Visitors to Madiwala Kere Habba can expect lots of fun activities for both children and adults. The schedule includes bird watching, sketching, cycling, craft, dance, music, story…

Looks can be very deceiving. Pic: Eden Ezsak When people ask about my daily discoveries in Bengaluru, I have a hard time recalling what I still find surprising in India. After two months, I have moved past the innumerous cows that so nonchalantly add to the congestion on the Bengaluru roads. The symphony of barking dogs, shouts, calls to prayer, traffic and endless horns has drifted quietly into the background of my consciousness. I no longer feel like rickshaw rides are similar to my childhood experiences at amusement parks. The perpetually burning mound of garbage near my apartment has become…

One of the major problems with Bangalore lakes is sewage inflow - either secretly or openly. The various citizen groups working to save their neighbourhood lakes have repeatedly approached BWSSB and KSPCB, the agencies in charge of handling Bangalore's sewage and monitoring pollution, but if recent feedback is an indication, the agencies do not care. Arakere Lake (in South Bangalore) rejuvenation work was started by BDA in Feb 2014 and supposed to be completed by Feb 2015. Arbind Gupta who is an active member of the Arekere Lake team ANIT says that while work is still in progress, no effort seems…

PNLIT is registered as an NGO beneficiary at the Vodafone Cycling Marathon. Our page can be seen here.   Calling all you cycling enthusiasts to register for the marathon and support our cause.The marathon is on 1st March. Registrations will close soon. Please register today!   Pick the ride that suits you - from 60 kms for professionals to fashion ride of 5 kms. There's even a kids' ride of 2 kms!! More rides and registration details on the website here.   Godspeed to your cycling legs!!     Usha