Economy

Bengaluru is one of India's more vibrant hubs for startups. But this startup near Whitefield is a firm few people would have expected. A Hoskote farmer has launched his own grocery supermarket. H Krishna Murthy, 40, a farmer who goes by the name Krishna, opened his swanky outlet, A1 Fresh World (A1FW) at Kadugodi last month. Krishna hails from Kolathur village in Hosakote and runs an 18-acre farm. Not unlike the major players in this sector, A1FW carries everything from fresh vegetables, dry groceries, diary foods, confectionary, beverages, savouries and so for. Hoskote-based farmer Krishna Murthy, who opened a supermarket…

On 8 November, some apartment associations around Cubbon Park had domestic workers in their apartments profiled. Photographs, fingerprints and detailed information of the workers were recorded by a private agency. The profiling was organised by Cubbon Park police station. Domestic workers Protest Pic: Navya P K The private agency Hamari Suraksha in its website says that it is ‘rooting out domestic terror' through this procedure. This is supposed to prevent crimes committed by domestic workers and help the police track workers when there is a crime. We are not criminals The event sparked off a protest on 10 November by…

After moving to Mahalakshmi Layout with her family, a few months ago, Lakshmi Teeka, 32, found that there weren't too many grocery stores in her neighbourhood. At supermarkets, she had to wait in line to pay the bill and checkout. Her friends introduced her to Town Essentials (towness.com), an online grocery shopping website that takes orders online and delivers groceries home. "I could do shopping at 12 am in the night and didn't have to wait in line anymore. The prices too are on par with wholesale prices so I began to order all my groceries including vegetables and fruits…

If you have a penchant for embroidered fabric in pastel colours, then Hakoba is the place. It offers fabrics with beautiful embroidery in subtle colours. Hakoba has its presence overseas as well. Our Bengaluru houses an exclusive showroom of Hakoba at Jayanagar, Gandhi Bazaar and Commercial street. The Jayanagar store sells sarees, salwar kameez, dupatta sets to embroidered fashion fabrics. It also offers Kurtas and party wear shirt for men. Embroidered fabric from the royal times. Pic: Nagashree GururajA privilege once reserved for kings and queens, embroidery is an ancient art. Centuries ago, embroidery added grace and refinement to royal…

“The biggest challenge we face, with the increasing prices is to provide enough to eat three square meals a day with a balance in the nutrients,” says Mary, 46, a domestic worker and a single mother, who lives in Nakalu Bande in Jaynagar 3rd Block.   Price of petrol, which was Rs 46 in mid 2009, is now nearing Rs 75; 10 grams of gold cost approximately Rs 16000 in September 2009 and is at Rs 26,000 now. The price of milk has nearly doubled from Rs 12 for one litre (double-toned milk), in 2007, to the current price of…

For Samaksh Kapoor, 22, a M.Sc. student, a laundry service is the only way he can get his clothes washed and ironed. He gives 4-5 kilos of clothes every week to Sancy’s Launderette in 3rd Phase JP Nagar. “My family does not live in Bangalore. As I am busy with studies, I don't find time to wash my clothes.” He says that the service at the launderette is quicker than a traditional dhobi. “So, this is my only option,” he says. Village Laundry Service Kiosk. Pic: Yogaraj Mudalgi Bangalore has had a steady influx of students and professionals from outside…

With rising petrol prices, electric bikes are fast becoming popular in the city. Those below 18 years are opting for low speed bikes, which have maximum speed of 25 km/hr. These bikes are not categorised as motor vehicles and hence do not need a driver's license, registration or insurance. Like any retail product, they can be purchased and used directly.Not yet 18 but can ride a bike Jayanagar-based Kushal Pabbi, 16, owns iStar, a 25 km/hr electric bike. A Ist PUC student in St Joseph's PU College in Richmond Road, he uses the bike mainly to travel to college and…

Property values in the city are set to rise with hike in guidance value. Guidance values are expected to go up by 30-100% this year (minimum of 30% within core areas and maximum of 100% in outskirts); rates would go up by more than 200% in outer areas like those near Peripheral Ring Road, since the market rates here have rocketed since the last revision. The previous hikes were in 2007, 2005, 2004 and 2002. During the 2007 hike, the value of residential, commercial and industrial properties were hiked by 50%, 60% and 25% on average.Officials at the Department of…

Mahadevapura MLA Aravind limbavali is organising a job mela for Mahadevapura residents on July 9th and 10th. Applications can be forwarded to the Personal Secretary to the MLA in his office at  Mahadevapura junction or Contact Vanisri Pradeep at 9448493497.Enclosed application form. Madhevpura Job Fair REG_FORM⊕

As I stood in a queue in the town centre in Swansea, Wales (UK) waiting for my bus to arrive, I over heard two women in front of me grumbling angrily about having to speak to some person in Bangalore who actually knew nothing about her TV  complaint and she was not sure if anything would finally get done over the weekend. Ooh, typical white metality I thought till I got slammed by the same problem by Airtel.Well I have been ‘Bangalored’ by the Airtel  Broadband service in the so called silicon valley of India. I suddenly woke up yesterday…