Economy | Citizen Matters

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.

Why Smart City projects may not be enough to hold back Jalandhar’s youth

September 5, 2019 Ayona Datta

For the older generation, many of them tradesmen, smart city is about a lot more than “chowk redevelopment.” For the youth, ‘Jalandhar ka kuch nahi ho sakta’ appears to be the dominant sentiment. The smart citizen they say is one who is successful in his efforts to emigrate.

When red means stop (the junk food)!

September 3, 2019 Disha Manjhi

The new guidelines issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India places a mandate on packaged food companies to label high fat, high sugar and high salt content on the front of the package, using a traffic light signalling system.

Mitigating the curse of the car in Indian cities

September 2, 2019 Dattatraya T Devare

On one hand, there is a thirst for bigger and more expensive cars. On the other, there is the state’s inability to provide strong enough disincentives and efficient alternatives. Together these are destroying our cities and our communities slowly but steadily. What is the way out?

Anecdotes and nostalgia are all that remain around single screen theatres in Kolkata

August 31, 2019 Shoma A Chatterji

As old movie halls in the city pull down their shutters, one after the other, those close to the world of cinema are left ruing that iconic institutions and an entire culture of movie-watching will be lost to the future generations.

How a fire in Surat has shaken up the ‘coaching’ industry in Bhopal

August 28, 2019 Shuriah Niazi

Following a fire in a Surat coaching centre that claimed 24 lives, the Bhopal administration ordered an inspection of fire safety compliance at all coaching centres. Findings were alarming and notices have been issued to 200 coaching institutes and hostels.

Adoption jokes are not ok, and here’s why

August 27, 2019 Mahesh V

Urban online gifting options are plenty today. But when a range of products meant for siblings deliberately calls one out as the ‘adopted’ one and makes adoption the stuff of jokes, should we just play along and accept it as ‘normal’ humour?

All that you must know before you sign your employment contract

August 14, 2019 Soumya Shekhar

A quick and useful explainer of all the terms, conditions and clauses that your job offer letter is most likely to contain — don’t sign before you truly grasp what you are signing up for.

How northeastern migrants are building a home away from home in Delhi’s Humayunpur

July 26, 2019 Arunav Chowdhury

Take a peek inside the melting pot that is Humayunpur, where you will find northeastern migrants from across the city gather to shop for groceries, eat native food and look for houses to rent. ‘It’s just like home,’ they say.

Report card: How charged up are electric buses in Indian cities?

July 18, 2019 Revathi Siva Kumar

In June, the government called for proposals from state transport departments for deployment of 5,000 electric buses, to be supported under the FAME-II scheme; but how close are our cities to realising that vision?

A must-have checklist for apartment buyers as cities run dry

July 5, 2019 Vishwanath Srikantaiah

Multi-storied apartments dot the skyline in all our cities, defining the aspiration of many urban citizens. But don’t forget the terrible water crisis we face today; if you are planning to invest in a flat, make sure the apartment has smart water management in place.

How to recover your dues from a bankrupt or fraudulent employer

June 20, 2019 Soumya Shekhar

Many Kingfisher employees have been waiting for pending salaries for over six years now. Pilots of the recently grounded Jet Airways also fear a similar fate. And there are thousands across the country awaiting dues from smaller, less known employers. What could be the way forward for them?

All for Rs 10K or less a month: The lives of Noida’s migrant rickshaw pullers

June 16, 2019 Vishwas

Around 20,000 tricycle rickshaw pullers live in Noida, mostly migrants from other states, who came here in pursuit of the ‘urban dream.’ But they find themselves constantly struggling to meet all ends, as they lead sub-par lives, far from their families and roots.

Inside Dehradun’s Bindal slum, where the city’s waste pickers live

June 11, 2019 Rishabh Shrivastava

Despite the crucial role they play in the city, efforts to improve the living conditions of Dehradun’s waste pickers — mostly migrants — have been minimal and they continue to live in unsafe conditions, with little or no assistance from the Municipal Corporation.

State of RERA implementation: Are home buyers really safe?

May 3, 2019 Soumya Shekhar

The roll out of the Real Estate Regulation Act (RERA) has anyway been lacklustre; now, there are fears that it may be amended to make it more builder friendly, rather than home buyer friendly.

Smart City plans hit Aligarh’s small businesses

May 1, 2019 Meher Ali

Over a hundred shops belonging to small traders and even some homes have been demolished in Aligarh with little prior warning and no compensation, as smart city protocols were initiated in the ciity with zero or minimal planning.

Voice of Indian youth: Where do I want my country to go from here?

April 29, 2019 Swati Amar

As India votes to elect its representatives in the 17th Lok Sabha, what changes does the youth of the country expect their leaders to usher in? What are their primary concerns? Listen to the voices of a diverse group of Indian youth, in our cities and abroad.