Weekly News Roundup

If you thought we stopped our newsletters, here we are, back again with a bunch of updates! We have changed a little, and we hope you enjoy reading the newsletter. Before you get into the newsletter: We now have a Telegram channel for sharing our updates from all our websites - Citizen Matters Main, Citizen Matters Bengaluru, and Citizen Matters Chennai. Do join the channel and keep track of what is published across all websites. You won’t see junk from us. Other members won’t be able to see you, and you won’t be able to see them. Mute it if…

Dear reader, Wish you a very happy new year from all of us at Citizen Matters - Oorvani Foundation! It was a sad start to the new year, with the reports of molestation in several parts of Bengaluru. What do you think about the debate around molestation incidents? We would like to hear from you! This week’s highlight NICE road land acquisition saga Framers in Gonipura, Thippur and Sigehalli villages grow ragi, maize, dal, peanuts and veggies in their fertile agriculture land. Pic: Akshatha M Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) was supposed to connect two cities seamlessly. NICE Road, the part…

We couldn’t help sharing this curated list of stories we published in 2016 - so here we are, with special year-end edition of the newsletter! These are the stories that make us what we are; these are the stories you would love to indulge in, to get a 360 degree view of an issue. Let us know which one you liked the best! The messed-up storm water drain encroachment clearance drive 2016 saw unprecedented action by the revenue department, where many buildings encroaching storm water drains were razed down. Many of these buildings had authorised plan sanction from BBMP. How…

Story of the season: Beating cash-crunch in cities As cash-crunch hits ATMs post-demonetisation, many people are finding alternative ways to pay the monthly bills and commitments. People living in cities have comparatively less worries in tackling this situation, as technology comes to help. >> Read our guide on Many options for cashless transactions, to help ease cash-crunch. >> Much is being said about ewallets. How does ewallet help? Here’s an article: A guide to e-wallets. Also read: What demonetisation means for common man on Chennai streets Elevated roads and public transport in cities R K Misra, who is one of…

This week’s highlight Bengaluru is burning, but BBMP unable to help Garbage burning in progress in Varthur. Pic: Keerthi Gardenia resident In last two weeks, there have been multiple cases of garbage burning in Bengaluru being reported on social media. But the entire system seems to have turned a blind eye to this problem. The problem recurs every winter and continues in summer. But who is caring? Read: BBMP unable to control Bengaluru's garbage fire menace Fedup of constantly breathing toxic fumes from burning of garbage, student Aditya Potapragada writes to BBMP:‘Killing me softly with your smoke.’ When a builder…

  CITIZEN MATTERS Bangalore's own interactive newsmagazine Speak up, it's your city! Dear Reader, Season’s greetings! It’s going to be Deepavali this weekend. While the festival of lights brings in joy and celebration, it’s also the time when pollution peaks, and crackers only add to it. Is anything being done to create awareness among children on harmful effects of crackers? Ponder over this: Deepavali in the city: can it be safer and ecofriendly? The Steel Flyover Debate Weekends in Bengaluru these days are a witness to a citizen movement that the city never saw in recent days: a human chain…

Dear Reader, The last one month, water has been on our minds. While most talk has been about Cauvery water, are we forgetting the real issue? What does it take to support the water needs of a city of 10 million? Our many stories over the years have brought you stories of scarcity, depleting groundwater levels, disappearing lakes, monsoon floods and water quality issues. It is time to really understand the city’s water stresses, how they are being addressed and what action we need to take NOW! We invite you to a special session that brings together a panel of…

It has been raining heavily in Bengaluru — 41.8 mm rains according to MET Department—and our social media timelines are flooded with vivid images and videos of floods across the city. Here are some numbers you can get help from if you have a major problem in your area! It has also been a week of many protests. Bank employees are protesting today against privatisation. The now-concluded BMTC employee protest must have had some effect on your lives in its own way. Gear up for another BMTC-less day tomorrow, if at all you plan to go out, because there’s going…

  Bengaluru this week April  7th 2016     CITIZEN MATTERS Bangalore's own interactive newsmagazine Speak up, it's your city!     We’re glad to report that our Journalism Workshop went well. Around 40 citizens came forward to understand city issues and learn to use journalism to share their ideas and experiences. We also managed to raise some funds for the journalism published on Citizen Matters. But what really has us over the moon is that there are so many active citizens keen on doing their bit for a better Bengaluru. A big thanks to all the participants. Click here for…

  Bengaluru this week April  1st 2016     CITIZEN MATTERS Bangalore's own interactive newsmagazine Speak up, it's your city!     We are very excited to be hosting the Journalism for Citizens workshop tomorrow at IIM Bangalore as part of our Summer Fundraiser. A big shoutout to all the folks who have registered for the workshop; not only because you are supporting independent community media, but also to appreciate your involvement as an active citizen working for a better Bengaluru! This week’s highlight: BBMP’s bloated budget for 2016-17 The Chairman of the Taxation Committee, M Shivaraj, presenting the BBMP Budget.…