A dummy’s guide to travelling on a budget across India

travels

By Aratrika Dey Travelling overseas can be a real gift for any individual. However, living through a pandemic, some things have changed indefinitely. Traveling abroad from India for tourism purposes remains suspended since March 2020. But this piece of information should not dampen a wanderer’s interests. Domestic flights resumed from May 2020, and interstate travel … Read more

Drive-in cinemas and open-air screenings zooming back into popularity amidst the pandemic

Drive-in cinemas and open-air screenings zooming back into popularity amidst the pandemic 1

By Anuksha Dey Watching movies on over-the-top (OTT) platforms or on TV has become the new normal during the pandemic. But, for those who miss the experience of the big screen, startups such as Lonely Cow Entertainment and organisations such as Sunset Cinema Club and SteppinOut are providing a safer alternative to the traditional cinema … Read more

Cops nab the kingpin behind drug trafficking in the city

drug trafficking

By Chandrima Mazumdar In one of the most significant drug trafficking raids by Central Crime Bangalore (CCB), the big shot of cocaine supply in Bengaluru who goes by the name “Chief” is now behind bars. According to Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Sandeep Patil, the man, who’s real name is Chidiebere Ambrose, was supplying drugs to … Read more

Citizens free 110 trees from nails across the city

freeing nails from trees

By Zahid H Javali Vinod Kartavya (36), a technical officer at Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and his team of concerned citizens, is on a mission to rid the city of nails from trees. After he got hurt while leaning on a tree, Kartavya, has been removing nails from trees with fellow citizens every … Read more

BBMP receives international honor in energy-efficient street lighting; residents call it a ‘pseudo achievement’

street lighting

By Qamar ZJ The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has won the silver medal for its energy-efficient street lighting project under the ‘Best Utilities Project’ at the Partnerships Awards 2020. The judges included 80 individuals representing public and private enterprises. However,  netizens are dubbing the honor as a ‘pseudo achievement’ as most of Bangaluru is … Read more

Anti-Corruption Bureau: How to nail the corrupt

anti corruption bureau

By Aratrika Dey   Do you want to take action against the ever-persisting problem of corruption? Or have you been subjected to malpractices and become a victim of corruption? Have you been asked to pay a certain sum to the police inspector assigned to you in your passport verification process to get the job done quickly? … Read more

Found a messy toilet or broken footpath? Report now for end-to-end solution!

my city my budget

By Chandrima Mazumdar To reduce public urination and fix the broken footpaths within the year, Janaagraha, a non-profit organization, has teamed with Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in their annual budget campaign called MyCityMyBudget. And every citizen can play a role in beautifying the city. In the last five years, over 50,000 citizens gave 90,000 … Read more

BBMP promises compensation to victims of bad infrastructure; Twitterati responds 

bbmp notice

By Aratrika Dey On December 1, the BBMP published a public notification in the papers, promising to  compensate citizens injured due to bad roads or footpaths with a payment of Rs 15,000. In case of death, the family of the victim will be paid Rs 3 lakhs by the BBMP, while minor injuries will merit … Read more

Shocking First Person Account: RTO giving permanent driving licences without proper testing!

RTO

By Ruchika S We have an expose by a 21-year-old communications student in Bengaluru about the corrupt ways of the Koramangala Regional Transport Office (RTO). She applied for a permanent driving licence through her driving school, and found that the RTO officials were granting the permits without proper tests. Here is her first person account … Read more

Know your neighbour: She runs Bengaluru’s only natural birth and midwifery care centre

chetana kulkarni

By Zahid H Javali Chetana Kulkarni (39), the co-founder of The Birth Home in JP Nagar, is on a mission. The resident of Indiranagar believes in natural birth and family-centred care to be her life’s focus. Though qualified as an engineer, midwifery has become her life’s calling in the last 15 months in Bengaluru.  While … Read more

RTI: How to make public sector banks answerable to you

RTI

By Aratrika Dey The right to information should be a fundamental right of every citizen. Given the lack of transparency from the public sector banks in the country, the citizens need to know how to file an RTI (Right to Information) application. Banks serve as a part of the foundation of any economy. But much … Read more

‘Smart Cities Mission’ is anti-poor, non-inclusive, and against the constitutional mandate: Experts

smart cities mission

By Qamar ZJ & Chandrima Mazumdar While the 2015 idea of ‘100 Smart Cities Mission’ promised improved standards of living, the reality is that it has forced many people into poverty. Instead of acting as a role model for the tier 2 and tier 3 cities, the governance and financial implications of this urban renewal … Read more