GENRE: LN

Even after spending crores on mosquito extermination, there were around 10 Chikungunya and five dengue cases reported in Bangalore earlier last month. Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that is responsible for Chikungunya (pic courtesy: Wikimedia Commons) Dr Usha Vasankar, Director, Heath and family Welfare Department, Bangalore says, "As per the BBMP report submitted to us there are 131 Chikungunya cases and 10 dengue cases in Bangalore as of 31st May 2009.""It is a routine to swat and shoo mosquitoes every evening," says T R Shastry, a resident of JP Nagar shooing a few mosquitoes buzzing above his head. Shastry’s experience is…

On World Environment day on 5th of June, members of Kuvempunagar Permanent Resident’s Welfare Association and the students of Green Pastures School participated in planting saplings in BTM layout. Around 300 students and 10 teachers from the School participated in this event organised at the Indian Water Works Association(IWWA) Hall at BTM layout 7th main. The students rallied from NS Pallya to BTM holding posters and playing drums.We have planted 100 saplings of Neem, Ashok and Champa, all provided by the Forest Department and BBMP,” said A Vidyashankar, President of the Association. Green Pasture School students (pic: MM) They also…

This summer, Ravi Kumar’s (name changed to protect identity) parents were left in a dilemma. Ravi completed his 2nd standard exams and was promoted to the 3rd standard. But he couldn’t go back to school. That’s because after promoting Ravi, the school expelled him. Here’s Ravi’s story and the trauma his parents went through. Eight-year-old Ravi was a student of the school run by the Nijaguna Education Trust (NET) in Gavipuram. Ravi’s father, 45-year-old Sridhar Kumar (name changed to protect identity) is a BMTC bus driver and his mother, 36-year-old Roopa  (name changed to protect identity) is a home maker.…

Are your SSLC or PUC results out and you are not happy with the performance? Or are you confused about career options? Manasa Consultants in JP Nagar has come up with counseling sessions and aptitude test to help students deal with the post result issues.Annapurna Murthy, a career counselor from Manasa Consultants, feels that such programs are essential to help young people find directions. She says, post results, students whose results are not as per their expectations, do not know on what they can fall back on. "Both parents and their wards are under severe anxiety," says Annapurna. "Aptitude tests…

"I received a notice for parking in a 'no parking' area on 14th March in Siddiah Puranik Road, near KHB Colony. This road is in Basaveshwaranagar. I don't even recall going to this area at least in the last six months and I am sure no one has even taken my vehicle (car) to this place," complains Anantha Murthy, who wrote to Citizen Matters about his experience. He claims that the notice he received from the Traffic Police is baseless. Traffic Police issuing ticket to traffic violator (pic: Supriya Khandekar) Sumit Chandra, an IT professional who travels from RT Nagar…

Consumer   Consumers again in the receiving end Despite nose diving inflation, prices of essential goods remains high. But consumers now have to deal with another problem. Most producers of consumer goods retain old prices of commodities, but reduce the weight without consumers' knowledge. Weight of a soap is reduced by 13 grams and the weight of edible oil from a well known company has been reduced from 910 to 850 grams. Most of the time, consumer pay little attention to these details. An amendment to the Act of Weight and Measurement allows producers to decide on weight of the…

Environment Snakes creep from drainage pipes into houses Snakes in Bangalore seem to find a new place to stay. They have started visiting houses through drain pipes. There are about 50 such incidents reported so far this summer. Till now worms, cockroaches, scorpions were entering through pipelines. It is now the turn of snakes. Scorching heat is said to be the primary reason. Snakes look for cooler places and ultimately end up inside houses. Environmentalists guess that about 65 per cent of snakes in Bangalore house in drainage pipes. ( Vijaya Karnataka, Wednesday, May 13) Crime Police look for the…

There are many instances when you find yourself staring at something and wondering, ‘Have I seen this somewhere?' MS Gopal's photo exhibition, which opened on 11th May and will go on for a month at F&B restaurant, off St. Marks Road, makes you ask that question. M S Gopal's picture of a security guard, Jeevan originally from Assam. Gopal, a young professional has found his metier in shooting Bangalore with his pocket sized Canon A350. Many may feel that this is too small a tool for taking photographs, but Gopal looks at it as an opportunity. He can carry it…

It is common for any institution to give away their “best worker” awards. However, most of us think that a common man do not have much to do with it.But Jnanajyothi, the Senior Citizens Forum of Banashankari II Stage, has, from the last 3 years been celebrating May Day in a slightly different manner. On this occasion, they honour one person each from the various civic amenity service providers who have been serving the residents of Banashankari II Stage. According to M R Rangaswamy, President, Jnanajyothi, “Normally, it is the workers at the grass root level who are the first…

On the afternoon of Sunday, 2nd May, a group of citizens came together at a dance auditorium at Jayanagar to discuss one of the city's burning issues: the “Namma Metro” project. Organised by Hasiru Usiru, the discussion  focussed on social, economic and environmental impacts of the construction of the Metro in Jayanagar. The four hour long discussion also included a critique of the current plan, alternative designs, as well as legal issues surrounding the controversial project.  The participants said that they have very little knowledge about the plans of the Metro. While some appreciated the introduction of the Metro in…