CHILDREN

You see them everywhere....at every traffic signal, on the pavements, on the roads.They thrust all sorts of things at you: yellow dustercloths, packs of cotton buds, little battery-operated lights, expanding "laundry" bags, rolling windshield screens...or they sit on the footpaths, selling ceramic wares, cheap chandeliers, or put up tents offering herbal medicines.These are the visible yet invisible people. As the motorists and two-wheelers stand at traffic lights, they sometimes notice these people enough to buy their wares, after bargaining them down into the ground; but more often, they flick a glance their way and turn their minds elsewhere, while these…

Winter in Bangalore is an amazing time. It isn’t bitterly cold but chilly enough to make you want to wrap a stole and seek the warmth of the sun. The rains are gone and the city is dry, green and colourful, with pink blossoms all around. And most importantly, after a month of dull weather the sun is finally out. What’s a better time than this to take the children out and indulge in something unusual? We give you a list of 10 things to do with kids this winter. Indoors and outdoors, both. The eco-park 'Our Native village'. Pic…

Saturday, November 14th 2009 saw a different kind of Children's day event in Jayanagar. Kids were not dressed as Nehru or Indira Gandhi and were not singing or dancing. Instead, they all came out on their cycles and demanded safer roads for cycling to school.About 200 students from various schools in Jayanagar, including MES school, Good Shepherd school, JSS school, Vijaya school were joined by Transport Minister R Ashoka, Jayanagar, MLA B N Vijayakumar and film actor Pooja Gandhi in a cycle rally. Justice Saldanha also spoke on  rights of children in roads and urban spaces. On Children's day around…

Children of Government Kannada Lower Primary School, Kattigenahalli (Yelahanka Post) decided they had had enough. Potable drinking water at school had been a problem for them for a long time now. They approached their neighbours – Astra Zeneca. In a couple of days, they had a water filter donated and installed. On the other side of town, children from RV Public School, VV Puram Bangalore were bothered by the chronic shortage of blood for emergency procedures. They launched a door-to-door awareness campaign to explore popular myths, and misconceptions about blood donation. The children persevered even when professionals and educated citizens…

   At DSF's R.T. Nagar centre As evident in the pictures, some kids from low income families and those connected with them through Dream School Foundation (DSF) celebrated on November 14, this year. (Actually, since I began voluntarily tutoring teenagers, I've been enjoying the day more than I did as a child!)                                                       A graceful Ranjita             DSF co-founder Maitreyee and volunteer Desingh with the day's best science team!     According to some government school students, their institutions are observing Children's Day only today. Everyone hopes that they did, as…

Unaware of the legal battle surrounding her home in this Low Income Neighbourhood (LIN) in Krishnarajapuram in North Bangalore, this little girl enjoys a measly snack. You can read the complete article about this LIN here They have possession certificates, yet live in fear of eviction ⊕References

A recent news report talked about troubles cyclists in Bangalore face on a daily basis. As a new mother I can relate to that. Yes, there is a connection. Have you tried pushing a pram around the city? Just around the block to a park? It is the scariest thing after having to cross road with an elderly at hand! It is no breaking news that the city’s infrastructure largely caters to able and citizens who own vehicles. Pedestrians and cyclists make up 8 and 2 per cent of the total road users in the city. But having an infant…

Hosur Round Table as service organisation is doing a fund raiser selling cracker gift boxes. The proceeds of the sale will be used to promote education of underprivileged children by providing classrooms, mulitimedia education aids, salaries for teachers etc. Hosur Round Table also funds environmental projects through Kenneth Anderson Nature Society. A primary school in Kodekarai a remote village in the Melagiris is being adopted by Hosur Round Table by sponsoring the salary of 2 teachers for a year. Thirteen class rooms have been constructed at various remote villages in the last few years and two multimedia education kits (projector,…

Noticed a group of energetic, charming ladies with warm smiles and welcoming voices convening in East End Circle (Jayanagar, 9th block) on Saturday afternoons? If yes, they may be the empowered women from Stree Jagruti Samiti (SJS), a collective of domestic workers in Bengaluru. Around since the late 1980's due to the tireless efforts of Geeta Menon (one of its co-founders along with social worker Rita Roy) and various supporters/associates like APSA and SICHREM, SJS has campaigned for labour rights, dignified treatment, benefits, etc. With 1200 members and a part of the Domestic Workers' Rights Union (DWRU), it has spread…

On 27th and 28th September 2009, Bangalore Cares, a non profit group organised "Sneha Sante", an event that combines a charity bazaar and a programme of cultural events, at H N Kalakshetra, National College, Jayanagar. Citizen Matters was present at the event with a spot drawing contest for children on the theme, "My street". Here are the drawings of the two groups, children aged eight years or below and those nine years and above. Scroll below to vote for your favourite.  Here are the drawings in group A, comprising of children aged eight years or below. A1 A2 A3 A4 A5…