Received suspicious news? Fact-check on state government’s website

fact checking website

By Qamar ZJ While there are several private fact-check websites, not many are aware that the Karnataka police launched a fact-checking website in April last year. This was to combat the fake news surrounding COVID-19. Today, the portal has become an additional tool that the citizens can use to check the veracity of the information … Read more

Opinion: BBMP will have to wait till 2026 before delimiting the wards!

bangalore map

By Kavitha Reddy Even as the Government of Karnataka (GoK) misused its authority to postpone the civic polls, it is unaware that the BBMP is in a legal quagmire. As per the New BBMP Act, all Grama Panchayats (GP) that are in some of the constituencies of Bengaluru will become part of the Greater Bengaluru … Read more

Local citizen initiative against spitting receives national attention

odette Katrak

By Aratrika Dey This pandemic saw the championing of the Stop India Spitting campaign, a national movement led by the citizens of Beautiful Bengaluru (also known as Beautiful Bharat nationwide). Established in 2015 and spearheaded by Bellandur resident Odette Katrak, a behaviour change professional, writer and changemaker, Beautiful Bengaluru is a voluntary citizens’ initiative working … Read more

PayTM and ICICI are the most preferred fastag providers

fastag

By Qamar ZJ In an online poll by Team BHP, PayTM has emerged way ahead of its rivals as the most preferred fastag provider in India. This is followed not so closely by ICICI. As this form of automatic toll fee collection becomes the norm from Feb 15 (it was extended today), people are flocking … Read more

Complain directly to CM from Jan 1 on one email ID!

CM twitter handle

By Qamar ZJ From 2021, you can directly complain to the Karnataka chief minister on his Twitter handle or email ID (cm.kar@nic.in) for speedier redressal of your complaints. Earlier, there were three email IDs to reach the CM. The new move is to remove any confusion and duplication, thereby streamlining the process. However, citizens find … Read more

Citizen group completes nine years of managing lakes in Bengaluru

Citizen group completes nine years of managing lakes in Bengaluru 4

By Anuksha Dey Mahadevpura Parisara Samrakshane Mattu Abhivrudhi Samiti  (Mapsas), a citizen-driven organisation, is about to enter its 10th year of looking after and reviving Bangalore’s lakes and reservoirs. The organisation has been working closely with BBMP and the residents around Soul Kere, Kaikondrahalli Kere, Kasavanahalli Kere, Lower Ambalipura Lake and Devarabisanahalli to maintain the … Read more

Sakala: Get government services delivered to you on time

sakala

By Aratrika Dey Across India, citizens are frustrated when the promised delivery of a particular service from the government is either received after the due date or not at all.  That is when you should turn to Sakala, a public service scheme under the Karnataka Guarantee of Services to Citizens Act, 2011. If your application … Read more

“We are creating mini forests every week in Bengaluru”

say trees

By Anuksha Dey SayTrees planted 8150 saplings at Hennagara Lake last Saturday. The saplings were planted using the Miyawaki method at the lake near Bannerghatta. This afforestation project on the outskirts of Bengaluru is a small part of SayTrees’s efforts to green the city.  Currently, this Bengaluru-based not-for-profit organization has over 25 afforestation projects in … Read more

COVID-19: ActionAid steps in to prevent a second wave

actionaid

By Chandrima Mazumdar Better awareness and the right nutrition is the best way to prevent the second wave of COVID-19, according to ActionAid. The NGO launched a campaign to emphasise these points on Tuesday. The COVID-19 camp and nutrition distribution to adolescents was done in association with Slum Mahila Sanghatane and the CSR support of … Read more

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 5

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

Traffic congestion to continue for atleast 2 years in KR Puram

Tin factory

By Anuksha Dey After lying dormant for about two years in KR Puram, the Metro line construction site near Jyothipura is showing signs of progress. However, residents might have to wait a few years for the Tin Factory traffic congestion to ease. The Tin factory junction, which connects East Bangalore to Central Bangalore, is riddled … Read more