INTERVIEWS

With the Tamil Nadu government's partial ban on single-use plastic in place since January 1st, Citizen Matters spoke to Rajendra Ratnoo, IAS, one of the the three regional coordinators working to make the transition to a plastic-less state smooth and ensure the success of the ban. We asked him some of the questions raised most often by our readers. What happens to the existing single use plastic in possession with the people as on January 1st? The segregated collection of waste by the local body is already underway in many places. People can turn in the single use plastic they…

Divya (name changed) was a successful 40-year-old HR professional from Bengaluru till such time as she lost her mother to a heart attack, suddenly, a few years ago. She herself was hospitalised a couple of weeks later, reason unknown. It was left to a psychiatrist to identify that she was suffering from depression. She was advised medication and grief counselling which she continues to this day. 'Accepting that I had depression was not easy. Anxiety attacks compounded the problem. I went through denial before I could finally accept that what I dealing with was an ailment which needed attention -…

வரும் 2019 ஆம் ஆண்டு ஜனவரி மாதம் 1-ஆம் தேதி முதல், தமிழ்நாடு அரசு, ஒற்றைப் பயன்பாட்டு பிளாஸ்டிக் மீது போட்டிருக்கும் தடை விதிகளை அமல்படுத்தும். இது, சுற்றுச்சூழலை பாதுகாக்கும் நோக்கில், மாநிலத்தில் முன்னொருபோதும் எடுக்கப்படாத நடவடிக்கை. பிளாஸ்டிக் தடை பற்றி பல குடிமக்கள் மத்தியில் இன்னும் குழப்பம் மற்றும் கவலை உள்ளது. அதனை போக்க செய்தித்தாள் விளம்பரங்கள் மூலம் மாநில அரசாங்கம் தொடர்ச்சியாக நினைவூட்டிக் கொண்டிருக்கிறது, ஆனால் தடையை அமல்படுத்த அல்லது ஒரு மாற்று வழிமுறைகளை பின்பற்றுவதில் ஒரு உறுதியான வரைபடத்தை இதுவரை வழங்க தவறிவிட்டது. பல நிறுவனங்கள், குறிப்பாக தொண்டு நிறுவனங்கள், இந்த பிரச்சினையைப் பற்றி பொது மக்களின் உணர்தலை மேம்படுத்த பணியாற்றி வருகின்றனர். திடக்கழிவு மேலாண்மை மற்றும் பல சுற்றுச்சூழல் சம்பந்தப்பட்ட பணிகளில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ள நம்ம ஊரு பவுண்டேஷனின் நிறுவனர் பி. நடராஜனிடம் வரவிருக்கும் பிளாஸ்டிக் தடையைச் சந்திக்க வேண்டிய யுக்திகள் மற்றும் நம்ம ஊரு பவுண்டேஷனின்…

Come January 1, 2019, the Tamil Nadu government will implement a blanket ban on single use plastic, an unprecedented move in the state, aimed at protecting the environment. Plastic ban has been at the centre of discussion among many citizens who are still confused and worried about life sans plastic. The state government is continuously reminding people about the ban through newspaper ads, but has failed to provide a concrete road map on the implementation of the ban or the alternatives to be adopted. Several  organisations, especially NGOs, have on the other hand been on the field to sensitise the…

Through a flurry of tweets recently, senior IPS officer Bhaskar Rao, affirmed that e-autos were the way forward to combat pollution and address the issue of last mile connectivity. Rao, who previously held the post of Transport Commissioner and Director, Security, Vigilance and Operations at the KSRTC  (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) says that a lack of imagination, coupled with a centralised approach, is what stops the administration from finding effective solutions to the transport nightmare of Bengalureans. Excerpts from his interview with Citizen Matters. How do you see electric technology working in the context of public transport? I have been…

In an earlier article on electric autos, we had explored how electric rickshaws could serve as a panacea both for the growing air pollution in Bengaluru, as well as the last mile connectivity issues that plague commuters in the city. We had even outlined the policy that exists with regard to introduction of such vehicles. But the transition from paper to practical use has its own challenges. Continuing that focus, we sat down for a chat with Omkareshwari, Joint Director, E-Governance and Environment, Department of Transport to discuss more about the official policy and get an idea of when e-autos…

As the #MeToo movement from the West settled on Indian shores, brewing up a storm in Bollywood and the Indian media industry, the corporates were not left behind in the exercise of ousting perpetrators of sexual harassment this year. Companies are now mandated to compulsorily disclose sexual harassment cases in their annual reports.  A study of companies listed in Nifty shows, in the FY 2018 alone, 601 cases of sexual harassment have been reported. Wipro recorded 101 cases, ICICI bank follows with 99 cases, and Infosys with 77 cases in 2018. Companies hire external firms to implement the POSH Act, manage redressal…

Shifting from the slick, tree-lined Vasanthnagar to the mud and gravel of HRBR in East Bengaluru did it. Building a dream house in a nightmare colony with no roads or facilities dealt quite a shock to D.S. Rajshekhar ten years ago. It was then that he felt that unless he stepped forward and joined like-minded citizens to show some fighting spirit, he would continue to live in a perpetually 'under-construction' colony. His Residents' Welfare Association referred him to Citizens' Action Forum (CAF), which was a simple association of rather indignant residents. It was an idea that was seeded in 2007. It had…

For many years now Sarvesh (name changed) has been living in a kind of emotional seesaw that makes him swing like a pendulum between deep depression and manic excitement. He is afflicted with Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD) and life has not been easy for him or his family members. The latter have however accepted his condition and are supportive. Stated in simple terms, BPAD is a psychiatric disorder that makes it very difficult for people to control their mood swings. Medication is an essential part of the treatment. How did it begin for Sarvesh? 13 years ago, as an alcoholic,…

Sampath Raj, the 51st Mayor of Bangalore, finishes his term as the first citizen of the city in September. As the race for his successor heats up, we caught up with the man for a chat on his experience as the Mayor of Bangalore, on city administration, and other pressing issues. Much like that of a seasoned politician, his interview turned out to be more interesting for what he hinted at, rather than what he said. A mayor is considered a figure head and is not really considered very powerful. Is that what your experience has been in office? The…