Economy | Citizen Matters

Coronavirus relief for the economy: What the Centre can and should do

March 24, 2020 Vijaya Pushkarna

Citizen Matters shares the recommendations of two experts on the immediate steps that the Centre can take to provide relief to those whose income has dried up because of the virus outbreak.

A deeper look into Kerala’s 20,000-crore relief package to beat COVID blues

March 24, 2020 N V Ravindranathan Nair

With the economy on the verge of collapse, the state government has taken three immediate steps: cash relief to BPL families, a consumer loan scheme to be managed by women, and a push for rural employment guarantee schemes.

Mumbai 24X7: Maximum city now open for maximum hours of the day

February 14, 2020 Azkeya Tase

In line with a government decision aimed at promoting tourism, Mumbai — the city that never sleeps — is running a pilot project that allows select malls and eateries to stay open all day and night. A week after the experiment started, we asked citizens and businesses about their experience.

In Srinagar, houseboats and their builders face extinction

February 12, 2020 Abid Bashir Wani

On one hand, strict High Court guidelines prohibit new registration of houseboats in Dal and Nigeen lakes in Srinagar. On the other, there are just three master craftsmen left, who can build these boats, the older ones among which are in decrepit state.

Chandigarh: Resettled vendors rue lack of business and facilities in new vending zones

February 10, 2020 Raj Machhan

The main grouse appears to be around the location of the new zone; those allowed to operate in original sites, or relocated to sites near market areas, appear satisfied with the new regulation even if they have seen marginal decline in business.

How the Chandigarh Municipality raked in Rs 21 crore from its street vendor regularisation plan

February 10, 2020 Raj Machhan

Chandigarh ranks first among Union Territories and third among the states in the CCS Progress Report on Implementing the Street Vendors Act 2014. Here’s what it has done to regularise street vending in the city, and what that means for the city corporation.

Mumbai’s housing conundrum: Unsold houses, sky-high prices

January 11, 2020 Hepzi Anthony

6.48 lakh houses remained unsold across India’s top seven cities in 2019, and Mumbai alone accounted for nearly a third of these. Yet scarcity of affordable housing pushes people further and further away from the city. What could explain this?

From boom to bust: Bhiwandi’s textile industry woes

January 8, 2020 Azkeya Tase

During its heyday, Bhiwandi, in Thane district, had the highest cluster of powerlooms in the country, and was a huge employment hub with workers hailing from different states. Today this once-thriving business is facing extinction. What does Bhiwandi tell us about small scale industry in the country today?

Turning fridges to agricultural fields: Mangalore school kids’ unique urban farming experiment

January 5, 2020 Harsha Raj Gatty

The ‘thermally insulated’ compartments of unused, discarded refrigerators are being used as eco-friendly pots for growing a variety of vegetables on the ‘rooftop garden’ of Sayyed Madani Urdu Higher Primary School. The produce contributes significantly to mid day meals prepared in the school.

18000 crore rupees, nearly 5 lakh jobs lost as Kashmir reels under internet suspension

January 3, 2020 Abid Bashir Wani

Those are just the figures since August 5th, as quoted in a report from the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Underlying these figures is the angst of thousands who did not get their salaries, students who struggled to prepare for crucial exams and many more.

Your step-by-step guide to entering the startup world

December 23, 2019 Soumya Shekhar

What are the alternative forms of business entities that you can form as you embark on your own venture? What are the legal compliance procedures to be followed? A quick guide to questions commonly asked by aspiring or new entrepreneurs

Delhi fire tragedy a grim reminder of the city’s 32000+ child labourers

December 12, 2019 Oommen C Kurian

Between 2011 and 2017, child workers under the age of 14 increased from a little over 2000 to 32,330 — 41% of them Dalit and 55% Muslim. Now with the recent fire at Anaj Mandi claiming several such young lives, will the Delhi government sit up and act on this mounting problem?

Why many migrant waste-pickers stayed back in Srinagar despite fears and uncertainty

December 11, 2019 Abid Bashir Wani

Hospitable, caring and offering opportunities for a decent living — that is how most of them see the city. Thus, despite the tension and reports of attacks on non-Kashmiris in the days following the abrogation of Article 370, they decided to stay put. And they have not regretted it.

Why the Kashmir situation is bothering Amritsar’s textile industry

November 14, 2019 Raj Machhan

Countless manufacturing units in the once-thriving textile sector lie idle today, and 80% of the two lakh people directly and indirectly employed by the industry have returned home. The Kashmir clampdown may not be the only reason, but is making matters worse for sure.

50000 workers face serious health risks in illegal e-waste processing units in Delhi

November 11, 2019 Amita Bhaduri

A study identified 15 e-waste processing hotspots in Delhi, housing 5000 units that operate without any safeguards for its employees, who are exposed to chemical or metallic dusts, vapour and acidic effluents.

All that you need to know about the new consumer protection law

October 30, 2019 Soumya Shekhar

The Indian government has enacted a new Consumer Protection Act 2019, replacing the earlier law. A comprehensive look at the new provisions under the law and the protection you can expect as a consumer.

Thousands of blue-collar jobs hit as Mohali’s manufacturing sector cedes ground to IT, services

October 18, 2019 Raj Machhan

Compared to other industrial hubs in Punjab, Mohali has better infrastructure and enjoys the advantage of proximity to Chandigarh. But despite the edge, manufacturing units in the city have failed to survive. Here’s why.

In Jalandhar, the makers of Dhoni’s bat are crying out for government help; here’s why

September 16, 2019 Raj Machhan

There was a time when Jalandhar contributed to almost 80 per cent of the sports goods manufactured in India. Thanks to slow modernisation, stiff Chinese competition and most recently, the GST, its leadership position is challenged not just globally, but even within the country.

As Mumbai gets ready to bid adieu to Bappa, the sea braces for more pollution

September 10, 2019 Jahanvi J

An estimated 1.63 lakh idols were bought by households this year, and over 19,000 idols for the public pandals. Most of these are made of thermocol and Plaster-of-Paris (POP), and will be immersed in the sea, along the popular beaches. Why is Mumbai unable to move from POP to clay idols?

Not made in heaven: Do’s and don’ts when you look for a life partner online

September 9, 2019 Swati Amar

Online matchmaking among the tech-savvy new generation has led to the proliferation of various matrimonial and dating sites in India. But these come with very real hazards and every user of such sites must always be cautious.