CITIZEN JOURNALISM

Our collaborative model enables urban citizens to not just learn but also engage and contribute their insights and learning as citizen journalists. Across cities, there are remarkable initiatives of citizens, not just activists, Resident Welfare Association (RWA) members and lay volunteers becoming "active citizens" - getting involved in various civic projects from rejuvenating lakes to initiating waste segregation to auditing footpath infrastructure. This section documents their experiences, helping these “doers” share learnings and insights and amplifying citizen voice. We are grateful to Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies for part supporting the Civic Changemaking and Citizen Journalism Programme.

Nearly 400 under-privileged children in Bengaluru had a special day on 14th November 2008, Children's Day. The children belonged to Sishu Mandir, Sri Satya Shanti Seva, Bethel Home, Leela School, Gerizim Rehab hostel, Lovedale foundation and a few others. A soccer session in progress. Pic: Jamshed Billimoria.The day’s event included a special showing of the movie Roadside Romeo at Cauvery Theatre at 8.30 AM. The film distributor, Ajay Chandani and the owner of the theatre, Prakash, donated the movie tickets for free (500 seats). This was followed by fun and games at the XLR8 indoor sports arena on Hennur-Bagalur Main…

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This Children's Day, Pupil Tree, from Future Tree Learning Services Pvt. Ltd, helped start 'Booky Bob', a unique interactive reading hub designed to nurture children's love for learning. The unique library aims at promoting healthy reading, leading to analytical thinking, making use of the rich literature that is available here. 'Booky Bob', the first interactive learning hub of its kind, was inaugurated by B Jayashree, the well known theatre and literary personality in Bangalore. Jayashree is also a great promoter of book reading among children and has book reading shows on local channels especially aimed at increasing their reading habits.…

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We have started a community participatory project aimed at reducing alarming noise pollution levels in Bangalore. We have arranged for an awareness campaign and press conference this Saturday and we would like to invite you for the same. Street demo/campaign on Saturday, 15th November 2008: 10 AM to 11 AM near Cubbon Park at the Kasturba Road Signal (Jewels de Paragon) Press conference from 12.30 PM to 1 PM at the Bangalore press club. To all those who are planning to join us in our demo, we request that you bring a poster carrying slogans (a crisp and effective message)…

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Green and serene

I had heard a lot about the Manchinbelle dam (across the river Arkavathy) from fellow photographer friends and it appeared at the top of my interest list for the weekend. Trip To: Manchinbelle DamFree Add-On: Big Banyan tree, Naga TempleDistance: 40 Kms.Trip directions: From Bangalore city, drive down Mysore Road and turn right at Rajeshwari Dental College. The road will take you directly to the Big Banyan tree and then continue to Manchinbelle Dam. The road is a great all through but the last few kms to the road promise to be bumpy.. EXPERIENCEAs the drive from the Rajeshwari dental…

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The nicest thing about Bangalore's roads is that they are (were?) tree-lined. Every out-of-station visitor to our home has said this to us. My daughter’s seasonal observation when she was 3 years old (and when she could only see the treetops from our car window) was testimony to the fact. Come the violet flowers of the Jacaranda tree and she knew that we had reached the main road from our locality in ST Bed Layout, Koramangala; the Gulmohar tree with its beautiful red flowers signaled that we were right across the Barista on the 80 feet Road and the yellow…

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Roads missing in BDA layout

  Beautiful RoadsPathetic condition of BDA approved layout Upadhaya layout, Nagadevanahalli, Kengeri Hobli with 319 sites was approved by BDA five years back (vide Res No 145/2004 dt. 29-05-2004, Extent 28A-27G as per information available in BDA website). The roads have never been asphalted till date. Crimes have started during night in absence of street lights. How much time do the tax payers have to wait for basic amenities??? ⊕

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"If I were pregnant, I'd surely have a miscarriage", is the thought that I have everyday when I'm on my Kinetic Honda on Bangalore roads. The bumps and potholes on the road jiggle my fat enough that I never feel the need for a workout. Coming back to Bangalore after five years provided a shock to my entire system. The place had changed! No more was it a sleepy town and when someone told me that Jayanagar still reminded them of OLD Bangalore, I chuckled away to myself.I believe from the depths of my heart that you should not swear…

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Bangalore is referred to as the Bean Town (benda kaalooru in Kannada) by parts of the English Press. Legend has it that a king called it by that name when he strayed into a village selling boiled beans. While this name is basically a fun name, some of the sobriquets it has acquired do no justice to either the mood or the history of the city. Some journalist with an overdose of imagination saw some retired people going for a walk in a leafy suburb and termed it a pensioner's paradise. IT spokesmen, who like to believe that it all…

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Day three at the recently concluded Bangalore test. The setting was perfect, the day promised a lot for India and Sachin fans. Bhajji and Zaheer started the revival of India towards the end of the day, hopefully the revival for the series.Sachin gets going in the first innings, his first boundary, joy was shortlived though as he was dismissed for 13More than the cricketers patrolling the boundaryShock and Awe tactics by the crowdEcstasy for Watson , despair for Dravid as the dreaded finger goes upWho uses the Drinks Trolley anymore ?They have the best view and the stamina‹ › $(document).ready(function(){…

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Avoid road rage

I have taken up a project to educate people about "Road Rage". The possibility of this project is to save people's lives on the road.When two vehicles collide with each other, what is our first reaction? Our first reaction usually tends to be to abuse the other party and the one who is provoked tends to get into a fist fight with the other party which can sometimes be fatal. Lakshman K, # B 11, Tallam Residency, Serpentine road, Kumara Park west, Bangalore - 560020 Contact Number 9845249184An example of this is of the ex-cricketer Navjoth Singh Siddhu who was…

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