citizen matters

    Bengaluru this week  August 21st 2014       CITIZEN MATTERS Bangalore's own interactive newsmagazine Speak up, it's your city!  City news that matters >> State government is slowly and steadily moving towards splitting BBMP again. A high-level meeting that took place on Tuesday decided to re-organise zones and wards in the BBMP to facilitate bifurcation. >> CID chargesheet against key accused in KPSC scam Mangala Sridhar, says that she called various candidates, around 450 times, before and after the examinations. Curiously there is also a name of ‘Doddavaru’ that came up during her conversations, reports Times of India.…

    Bengaluru this week  August 14th 2014       CITIZEN MATTERS Bangalore's own interactive newsmagazine Speak up, it's your city!  City news that matters >> Last week, the government finally acted on the CID report on 2011 KPSC scam, by cancelling the entire notification, because KPSC refused to do the revaluation. Curiously, HD Kumaraswamy stood by the recruited KPSC aspirants who were protesting in Freedom Park. Chief Justice D H Waghela has recused himself from hearing the case. >> Interestingly, former opposition leader A K Subbaiah has lashed out at Kumaraswamy saying gowdas were the sole beneficiaries of the scam,…

    Bengaluru this week  August 8th 2014       CITIZEN MATTERS Bangalore's own interactive newsmagazine Speak up, it's your city!   Award for Citizen Matters Citizen Matters is the winner of the Manthan South West award for e-news and journalism. Your own community newsmagazine has won the Manthan South West award in the e-news and journalism category. This is the 5th award for the team, in 6 years. Ganga Madappa, our Community Manager and Staff Journalist received the award in Pune yesterday. Read more. This award is dedicated to all of you, our readers, supporters and critics! Thank you…

    Bengaluru this week  July 31st 2014       CITIZEN MATTERS Bangalore's own interactive newsmagazine Speak up, it's your city!   City news that matters >> Pro-Kannada activists have called for a dawn-to-dusk bandh today, to protest against the recent spate of sexual crimes against women and children. >> Strongholds of pro-Kannada activism like Malleshwaram and Gandhibazar are witnessing heavy protests. >> BMTC bus services did not suffer in the morning though passengers were few. Essential services did not suffer. >> Home Minister has ordered that strict action be taken against those who damage public/private property and disturb the harmony. >> Two more…

    Bengaluru this week  July 24th 2014       CITIZEN MATTERS Bangalore's own interactive newsmagazine Speak up, it's your city!   City news that matters >> As Bangalore fights to bring justice to its rape victims, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asked, ‘Is this the only news you have?’ This triggered national-level debates on primetime television and the government is currently under fire. >> While the entire city is enraged, 27 BBMP councillors, including the deputy mayor are on a trip to Russia. >> Chief Minister will visit Mandur this weekend. Meanwhile, High Court has ordered that Mavallipura facility leased to Ramky…

On March 24th, Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC) shared information on the performance of sitting MPs at a press conference. As Kiran Shaw said, the idea was to highlight the issues and factors that citizens should keep in mind while exercising their franchise. This includes understanding the performance of MPs representing Bangalore City and voter perceptions. BPAC also shared Citizen Matters’ research and report on MPLAD expenditure and parliament record of the Bangalore MPs. Meera K, co-founder, Citizen Matters presented the data. Harish Narsappa of Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC) shared the findings relating to the performance of sitting MPs;…

Yes, it has been an exciting weekend. Your own interactive news and analysis website, Citizen Matters, won the Namma Bengaluru Award in media category, at an event organised by Namma Bengaluru Foundation in Freedom Park, on Saturday, March 15th, 2014. Accepting the award, Citizen Matters co-founder Meera K noted that even though the team was tiny by normal standards of newsmagazines, in reality, it is hundreds of thousands strong, because of direct participation from citizens. "It is the citizens of Bangalore who share their news, community activities and events, the citizens who send leads for our professional journalists to investigate,…

Like every other year, 2013 has been eventful. When one thinks of the big things that took place in Bengaluru this year, citizen-led initiatives such as the lake rejuvenation movement, Whitefield Rising and everyday heroes who shone, stand apart. They are indeed a reason for celebration. Then there are those which we may very well want to brush under the carpet, but cannot as a result of their impact they have on our lives - the state of roads, the multiple pothole related deaths, women’s safety, the lack of accountability on the part of our government etc. Let’s take a…

Living in Bengaluru, a new book for navigating the city was released at Jayanagar’s Prism Book Shop by MLA B N Vijayakumar accompanied by other well known Bangaloreans. This follows the launch of the book at Malleswaram on August 3rd. Jayanagar MLA B N Vijaykumar speaking at the book release at Prism Bookshop. Pic: Abhishek Angad. The guidebook is published by Oorvani Media, which is also the publisher of Citizen Matters, the newsmagazine focused on Bangalore and its neighbourhoods. The book has step-by-step guides, FAQs and information for getting things done in Bangalore. It has chapters devoted to public services…

Citizen Matters in association with ‘Second to none’ (220) is organising a ‘Reuse and Recycle mela’ this weekend at BTM Layout. 220 is an online community focused on the concept of Reduce-Recycle-Reduce waste. Flea market, last year. File pic The flea market on Sunday, July 15th, will provide a platform to buy second hand and upcycled articles. Upcycling refers to converting useless or waste into valuable products. There will be a bit of everything from used books, electronic items, clothes and home decor knick knacks. ‘Don't discard, reuse, don’t throw, recycle’ will be the buzz phrase this weekend. 11 am…