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

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