Economy

How do unemployment, inflation and economic inequality affect the lives of urban residents? How does government policy impact local economies and livelihoods of the people? Gain insights into these through community stories, reports on urban economic trends and developments as well as expert commentary.

Off late, there has been a huge confusion on the cable TV networks across the country, including Bengaluru, with implementation of set top box. Many cable TV subscribers are not able to understand the development in this direction. Here is an attempt to throw light on this ongoing issue. In 1991, the Indian government started a series of economic reforms including the liberalisation of the broadcasting industry, opening it up to cable television. This led to an explosion in the Indian cable TV industry. The Cable TV Act was passed in 1995. With the advent of technology, the cable service providers…

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From ‘Pete’ to ‘K R Market,' Bengaluru's oldest market built in 1920’s has seen many changes. However, presently not many citizens in Bangalore might have visited this area, as the traffic and garbage problem is terrible and repulsive. The new market with the unique architecture was built in 1990’s. If the BBMP's plan goes well, K R Market will see another big change, as a feasibility report for multilevel car parking and some re-organisation in K R market has been prepared and being discussed. New building in K R Market was built in 1997, but vast area remains underutilised. Pic…

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Dear Reader, Entrepreneur’s Corner is pleased to feature this interview of Srikanth Muralidhara, Co-Founder of the Bangalore-based Decision Sciences Company, Flutura Solutions, that focuses on M2M (machine to machine) and Big Data analytics. The company, started by Krishnan Raman, Srikanth Muralidhara and Derick Jose has recently made news, by being the first company to be invested in by The Hive India. This is a Fund anchored by the siblings Amit and Arihant of the Patni family, set up to invest in the area of data analytics. Srikanth is the managing partner and the Head of Customer Success at Flutura. He…

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This is not a crime thriller but a true story. Right in the heart of metropolitan city Bengaluru, with its 30 lakh vehicles (at last count) for a population of 90 lakh plus 1,300 new vehicles registered every day, a person dies. And no one cares! Muniyappa didn’t die of infection or injuries. He died of malnutrition and hunger, even as the parliament was passing the historic Food Security Bill. Rather, he was murdered - by a government that focuses on GDP growth, FDI and “market reforms” rather than the poor and destitute, who are also human, and for whom…

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On 23rd November 2013, PNLIT had the opportunity to be at the first Baldwin Business & Career Fair, an initiative pioneered by my school alumni, the Baldwin Alumni Association - for Baldwinians, by Baldwinians (Baldwin Boys & Baldwin Girls). Special thanks to Major Goverdhan (from the organising team) who persuaded me to come down to Bangalore for this.   One of the primary objectives of this event, which is planned to be periodically held, is to create an interactive platform where eminent Baldwinians, industry leaders can inspire and mentor the high school and graduating students as they begin to make critical…

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A clean up drive turned out to be a wake up drive, for shop keepers as well as BBMP, on Saturday, November 23, 2013 . As many as 26 shops at Johnson's market received notices for not having trade licenses  or for not displaying it. Health inspector Amarappa, Medical Officer of Health Sanghamitra and Additional Commissioner Yatish Kumar responsible for Solid Waste Management and Health carried out the inspection of trade licenses and waste disposal at Johnson's market on Hosur Road. There are many vendors in Johnson's Market who violate the rules. Pic: Nikita Malusare As you enter Johnson market…

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The Mayor feels IT industry has not done enough for Bengaluru. Sir, here are four things that IT can do for the city quickly. (a) Digitise the property records in the city, and host them online, so that everyone can see who is paying taxes, who is not, and how much. Likewise, digitise the records of government properties, spatially, and put them up online. (b) Digitise the records of all public works, including the history of works on each road, and put them up. (c) Digitise file movement in the BBMP, so that the routine work of the agency becomes…

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Plaza Theatre (pic: Amoghavarsha) It was 10 pm on a summer in 1990’s. Kiran, a 10-year-old boy living in Srirampuram of Bengaluru, remembered his grandma all of a sudden, and started asking for her. When he didn’t see her in their home, he started creating ruckus by crying and repeatedly asking for her. Finally one of his uncles took him to his grandmother - who was watching the second show in Geethanjali Theatre (now Big Bazaar in Malleshwaram) along with few other family members! Such was the craze of watching movies in theatres, in those days. Some people visited theatres…

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Sadananda Maiya. Pic courtesy: http://basavanagudinationaldegreecollege.blogspot.in It's known that Bangalore is Karnataka’s capital, Garden city, Silicon Valley, IT-BT hub of India, historically. Culturally, religiously, traditionally rich, educational hub tourists’ delight, cosmopolitan city ever growing in leaps and bounds in every aspect beyond one’s imagination, contributed to a galaxy of scientists, sports persons, actors, doctors, musicians and much more distinguished professionals. People from all over India and world jump at the first opportunity to come to Bangalore for whatever reasons and enjoy the social life it offers all irrespective of their vernacular background, culture, taste and lifestyle. Bangalore has great weather all…

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A young seller arranging the vegetables at a weekly Santhe near Bannerghatta Biological Park. Pic: Bosky Khanna Food inflation is at 7-month high. Wouldn’t it be nice to know areas where you could get fresh vegetables in Bengaluru for throw away price? There are some places hidden on the outskirts of the city where you can buy fresh locally grown vegetables directly from farmers. Also known as Santhes, local small vegetable markets are organised once a week, in various places on the city outskirts. Homemakers, suppliers to hotels and restaurants, street sellers, shop owners and even direct hotel and restaurant…

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