GENRE: Explainers

What time are the booths open?Polling starts at 7am and ends by 6pm. How to find your polling booth?  To find your name on the rolls and print the details, do the following:Go to http://ceokarnataka.kar.nic.in/vernacularSearch_New.aspxSelect the district (usually Bangalore, or Bangalore Rural), your constituency, and put your name, relative's name, gender, and hit search.If your entry exists, it will come up on the screen. Click the details link on left hand side of the entry line and you will get a blue popup box that displays all your details including booth location.Using your mouse, mark the entire box. Copy and…

Recently, I came across a booklet released by one of the candidates contesting the Karnataka Assembly elections about his achievements over the past 5 years as a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA). Over many colourful pages, he described the roads that he had got laid, the clogged drains that had been cleaned, the street lights that he had got erected, the numerous other small tasks that he had done for the city, the different schemes for which he had selected beneficiaries, etc. I spoke to a few people from his constituency only to find that most of them could easily…

The Deputy Chief Electoral Officer P T Kulkarni has confirmed that people whose names are the voters' list this month can vote on 5 May, even if they have not received the voter ID card. This comes as a relief to the citizens who have registered and found their names on the roll, but do not know whether they will be turned down at booths for want of EPIC cards. "Those who don't have EPIC can vote with any of the 21 documents that we have specified, as was the case in the last elections also. Instructions have been issued…

The election slogan of the Congress for the coming elections is ‘Sakkappa Saku', JD(S) is calling upon the citizens to "Be the Change". Likewise, each party has its own slogan. At the end of the day, when all the dance and drama is over, the elected representatives from each of these parties, cutting across party lines and ideology will have only one mantra... the mantra of how to double their personal assets in five years (provided the government stands). Note: This website will soon be migrated to a new system.  If you face any issues, do mail us. You can also…

For LATEST FAQ on 2014 Elections, click here. To know the procedure for online voter registration, click here. The Election Commission has announced a special summary revision of photo electoral rolls. This will help enrol first time voters, voters whose names are not in the rolls, voters who have shifted residences and already enrolled voters who need to correct their details. All citizens who will be 18 years or above, as on January 1st 2013, are eligible. [This article, published in Dec 2012 has been updated 4 Apr 2013]  How to check your name on the voter roll How to…

What is Aadhaar?Aadhaar is a 12-digit individual identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India on behalf of the Government of India.Where can I use it?This number will serve as a proof of identity and address, anywhere in India.Is UID registration and getting Aadhaar card compulsory?No, Aadhaar registration is voluntary, not compulsory. Enrollment is free.Is this like a social security? In a sense, yes; Aadhaar enables identification and may be assigned to every 'resident' of India; it is NOT a proof of citizenship and consequently, not only for Indians. What information is visible on the card?The UID card…

As another International World Water Day is observed on 22nd March, here is a list of what architects-builders can do to make their apartments and layouts reduce their water footprint. When we talk of water supply, water shortage, water conservation and everything else WATER in Bangalore homes, there are generally three subjects of focus: The water consumer - you, me and everything else that needs water The water supplier - Government, BWSSB, water tankers, bottled water agents The water source - Cauvery river, lakes, wells, borewells, rain As end consumers, much of the onus on saving water is on individuals.…

The Cauvery Stage IV Phase II project is on, which means Bangaloreans will get up to 500 million litres of water per day. The new project is set to benefit the residents of seven City Municipal Councils Yelahanka, Byatarayanapura, Bommanahalli, Mahadevpura, K.R. Puram, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Dasarahalli and one Town Municipal Council Kengeri. See the full details of who will get water here. There are 110 villages that will NOT benefit under this scheme. How much of water from the Cauvery Stage IV, Phase II is reaching citizens? Which areas are getting it? If your area is supposed to be covered and…

"It is close to four years now and there has not been a single repair work of the road," says Anil Kumar, but the RTI activist is not complaining! "It is strong, inspite of the many floods since 2008 when it was laid" says Kumar. A conversation with Kumar makes it apparent that it is not just the roads themselves but the monitoring of the entire process that residents need to be aware of in order to ensure that a good road is laid. In 1995, Ejipura was a new ward that lacked many basic civic amenities. A group of…

Bengaluru has already lost thousands of acres of land to encroachers. But if you know about a case of encroachment, there are many government bodies where you can complain. Here is a list of whom you can contact, and how. 1) BMTF (Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force): The state government had formed BMTF in 1996 to check land grabs and building violations in Bangalore Metropolitan Area (BMA). BMA includes Bangalore urban and rural districts, and part of Kolar district. All encroachments of government land/water bodies in these areas - even those that come under BBMP, BDA, BWSSB etc - will be…