CITIZEN JOURNALISM | | Citizen Matters

Bus-turned-wifi spot; Parking lots-turned-testing centres: How COVID-hit cities are using transport infrastructure

May 29, 2020 Ruchi Agarwal

Around the world, cities are adapting and reusing transport infrastructure to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. What can we learn from them?

Pandemic epiphany: Why unpaid domestic work shouldn’t be the woman’s burden only

May 27, 2020 Viswanathan Sridhar

The pandemic has led many men to recognise the unpaid labour that women undertake to run a household. Here’s a take on why the unequal distribution of work must end.

Lal Dora: The invisible red thread limiting the lives of Delhi’s ‘urban villagers’

May 23, 2020 Paras Tyagi and Antara Vats

Villages like Budhela, Munirka, Mehrauli and others have all been absorbed into the urban limits of Delhi. But what does it mean for the natives and migrants residing here?

Life in times of COVID: Caution is essential, but surely paranoia isn’t?

April 30, 2020 Deepti Mehrotra

Even after the lockdown is lifted, how many people will go out and eat in restaurants? How many will send their children to the park with other kids? A worried resident writes.

Games, social service and family bonding: How lockdown has changed life for parents and kids in Theni

April 29, 2020 Anupriya Murugesan

Citizens have paused their frenetic daily lives owing to the nationwide lockdown. This has created a new reality for parents and kids, as this town shows.

Op-ed: Will COVID-19 teach us to respect and value labour more?

April 28, 2020 Vandana Swami

A strong economy cannot be built on weak foundations, especially where human resources are concerned. If and when we return to normal life, how will we treat the ones who toil away at the bottom of the pyramid in India?

Where should the waste from quarantine centres and COVID isolation wards go?

April 25, 2020 Ananya Tewari

Management of biomedical waste during COVID-19 pandemic plays a critical role in overall public health protection and health care workers’ safety. Here’s what the Central Pollution Control Board recommends.

In Delhi’s CR Park, COVID-19 strengthens the circle of love and compassion

April 25, 2020 Sharmila Sinha

A resident of the predominantly Bengali neighbourhood in Delhi shares how her community has adapted to challenges of the times, and come together as one big family to beat the COVID blues.

How youth from a Mumbai slum ensured food for all in the community during the COVID crisis

April 17, 2020 Kaustubh Jagtap

It was not a mean feat — battling poverty, the lockdown and even antagonism from some higher powers. But in an amazing display of method, generosity and resilience, youth from Bhagat Singh Nagar slum gathered under the banner of ‘Bhakar Foundation’ to ensure noone in the slum went hungry.

Mumbai youth group urges support for the poor as they face starvation, job cuts along with COVID risk

April 2, 2020 Anuja Sirohi

Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA) conducted a rapid assessment in over 20 settlements across Greater Mumbai where low-income communities live and work, and found that they not only face risk of disease, but a threat to basic sustenance in the face of the coronavirus outbreak.

Making Mumbai: A space for youth to share and learn from one another on co-creating their city. Pic: Vivek Venkatraman

From ‘right to play’ to ‘right to vote’: How Mumbai youth are helping fellow citizens claim their rights

March 13, 2020 Doel Jaikishen

Many youngsters across Greater Mumbai have formed collectives to help co-create a more inclusive city. Their initiatives have received a big boost from the youth event ‘Making Mumbai’, part of the annual urban festival ComplexCity, organised by not-for-profit YUVA.

From a street play presented at the ComplexCity Bolti Bombay youth competitions. Pic: Vivek Venkatraman

Co-creating Mumbai afresh via ComplexCity

March 12, 2020 Doel Jaikishen

ComplexCity, an annual festival in Mumbai organised by the non-profit YUVA, enables city residents to openly engage, express and exchange views, and collaborate to explore solutions to the city’s pressing problems. A round-up of the 2020 event.

Simple tips for citizens to ensure safe journeys

December 24, 2019 Vijay Bagaria

Earlier this year, the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act 2019 was passed with a view to strengthening road safety. Despite the new law and harsher penalties for violation of traffic rules, accident headlines make it to news every other day. In the end, our safety is our responsibility.

How to claim health insurance benefits successfully from multiple policies

December 10, 2019 Anuj Jindal

Many of us have multiple health insurance policies but we rarely consider using them together to maximise claims following a treatment. Yet, all it takes is just four informed steps.

Safe and healthy food for children: Proposed FSSAI regulation puts the onus on schools

December 6, 2019 Surabhi Soral

Draft regulation, now being finalised, says schools must take concrete steps to ensure that only healthy food is served on campuses. No food categorised as HFSS (high in fats, sugar and salt) may be offered or sold within 50 m of a school campus.