GENRE: LN

தூய்மை இந்தியாவின் முதல் படி கழிப்பறை. இன்று இந்தியாவில், படித்தவர்களும் பொது இடங்களில் மலம் கழிக்கிறார்கள். அது எத்தனை அருவருக்கத் தக்க செயல்!, அதனால் இடம் அசிங்கமாகின்றது, துர்நாற்றம் வீசுகின்றது, அதில் உட்க்காரும் ஈக்கள் பின்னர் நாம் உண்ணும் உணவுகளிலும் உட்கார்ந்து நோய்களை பரப்பு கின்றன. சுவரைப் பார்த்து மலம் கழித்தால் யாரும் பார்க்க மாட்டார்கள் என்று நினைக்கிறார்கள். பூனை கண்ணை மூடிக் கொண்டு விட்டால் உலகம் இருண்டு போகுமா? அவர்களைப் பார்த்து எத்தனை பேர் அருவருப்பில் முகம் சுளிக்கிறார்கள் என்று யோசித்துக் கூட பார்ப்பதில்லை. இது தவறென்று தெரிந்து செய்கின்றார்களோ தெரியாமல் செய்கின்றார்களோ என்றுபுரியவில்லை. அவர்கள் ஈட்டும் பணம் எல்லாம் அவர்களது இச் செயகைகளால் மருந்துக்கும், மருத்துவருக்கும் தான் போகப் போகிறது என்பதை ஏனோ புரிந்து கொள்ளாது இருக்கிறார்கள். சுத்தமே ஆரோக்கியமான வாழ்விற்கு ஆதாரம் என்பதை தெரிந்தும், அதை நடைமுறைக்கு கொண்டு வர மறுக்கிறார்கள். அரசாங்கம் வீட்டுக்கு ஒரு கழிப்பறை கட்ட உதவுகின்றது . பொது கழிப்பிடங்களும் கட்டி வருகிறார்கள். ஆனால் மக்கள் இன்னும் அதன் முக்கியதுவத்தை உணரவில்லை.…

In the recently undertaken Swacch Survekshan 2017, a cleanliness ranking of cities published by the Ministry of Urban Development of the Government of India, Chennai’s ranking plummeted from 37 in 2016 to 235! Corporation officials have explained this saying that the “independent observation” was done a few days after Cyclone Vardah, which is why there has been a dip in the rankings. However, even if Chennai had scored the same on all parameters as in 2016, our rank would have been 120 for 2017, after Srikakulam (Rank 119, Marks 1198). Moreover, independent observation had a weight of only 25% in the…

On May 20th, the Adyar Cancer Institute conducted a workshop to mark the observance of World No Tobacco Day (May 31). The workshop, themed ‘Tobacco: A Threat to Development’ aimed to sensitize and empower youngsters falling prey to tobacco addiction. The event was inaugurated by Padma Vibhushan Dr. Shanta, Honorary Chairperson of the Cancer Institute, sitting Madras High Court Judge, Justice Kirubakaran and Tamil Nadu Traders Association President, Thiru. Ta. Velliyan. A crowd of 150 which included representations from various political parties and leading NGOs were present. Satta Panchayat Iyakkam, which has always advocated prohibition of smoking, actively participated in the…

  'Connect with Nature' is the theme for this year's World Environment Day. Pic: Bhoomi College World Environment Day is here again, with the theme “Connecting people to nature” this year. The motto is to “get outdoors and into nature, and appreciate its beauty and to think about how we are part of nature and how intimately we depend on it.” Like every year, this year too many organisations have planned several programmes in Bengaluru to celebrate the environment day on June 5th and even on the days before or after the environment day. If you are interested in participating…

On a Tuesday morning in early April this year, over a thousand teachers and students at a Kilpauk school were part of an interactive, fun-filled session, that was unlike any other they had ever taken part in. For, while there were fun and games and audio-visual presentations, as there might have been during other school events, the focus on this occasion was different. It was a session meant to raise awareness among those present, as well as break the silence around one of the greatest social evils of the times - child sexual abuse, or CSA. Much as we would…

Water flooded through an open footpath near Shivananda Circle, during the rain that lashed the city in May 3rd week. Pic: Shree D N The heavy rains that lashed Bengaluru in last two weeks caused havoc in the city. The flooded homes, waterlogged streets, uprooted trees, deaths, only reflected the unpreparedness of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to handle the rains. The rain on May 14th claimed the lives of two due to a wall collapse in Johnson Market. The following week, heavy rains flooded several areas including three slum pockets in Bommanahalli. Roads in Hosakerehalli were flooded due to…

Today (May 30th) is the last day for citizens owning properties in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits to file their property tax with five per cent tax rebate. But even after two months of BBMP making the property tax payment system open, citizens have continued to complain of issues with tax payment. Earlier this month, one of our readers and property tax expert D R Prakash (who is also the founder-president of Osborne Road Area Residents Welfare Association) wrote an article about the glitches in property tax payment portal. Last week he again wrote an e-mail to Citizen Matters,…

Mere formation of a body, planning and allocation of funds to rejuvenate the water bodies cannot be the ideal solution to the water crises that we have in our nation, said Dr Rajendra Singh Prasad, better-known as Waterman of India, at a gathering in Chennai last weekend at Goethe-Institut. The discussion on making Tamil Nadu drought-free was organised by Goethe-Institut, Chennai in association with Asian College of Journalism, Confluence 10, Kalakshetra Foundation and with coordination of several other colleges, universities and NGOs. “We must start a dialogue with the Government for identifying, demarcating and notifying the water bodies. Once it…

In December 2015, a few of us, office colleagues, got together and formed Naam Virumbum Thamizhagam (The Tamilagam we want) with the intent to engage in action that would eventually lead to the improvement of our respective neighbourhoods. 15-members strong today, our primary mission is to take the lead as citizens in bringing about a positive change in governance, by engaging in socio-political dialogue and activities. For any organization seeking to bring about an improvement in governance and social change, it is very important to know and resolve the local problems that citizens face, before taking any big steps. Our…

Pic: Shree D N The city government, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has put out details of solid waste management (SWM) microplan for Bengaluru’s wards. With this public data, you can understand what is working in garbage collection and clearance and what is not, in your ward, and engage with fellow citizens and officials to resolve it. How to access the information: Go to the homepage of the BBMP website: bbmp.gov.in Choose the language and go to the department section on http://bbmp.gov.in/en/web/guest/home Select the Solid Waste Management section. (ಘನತ್ಯಾಜ್ಯ section if in Kannada) Go to the download section - you…