R K Misra’s plan to make the bad guys lose p5 BESCOM’s Manivannan moots 911 system p9 Plans to produce solar power in homes p13 When the Tiger came back to his fort p15 How to recognise if you have diabetes p19 Taking stock of 2012 for women p20 No new year in slums p26 Will city Metro expand? p31 Raising your sons p35
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FEEDback R K Misra’s plan to make the bad guys lose We should start with Corporator’s elections instead on the Assembly Elections.. It’s the corporators of Bangalore who have let this city down.. The ones reaching the assembly and centre are slightly more polished people.. but our breed of corporators are just a bunch of goondas.. The best part is that, they have more influence on their ward than an MLA or MP.. and all the votes come from educated and high salary people.. Fielding good candidates for Assembly elections is a much bigger task.. - It involves more energy due to wider area - It has a mix of rural and urban which require opposite strategies You should convince corporates like Infosys or TCS to encourage their managers to stand for elections. If they win, they have an option to go on a sabbatical for five years. What’s the point of producing millions of MBAs and 1000s of CEOs when they cant be used for better governance. Focus only on 3 or wards with a better probablity of winning.. Even if you manage to win in 1-2 wards, it would be the start of a movement.. George Abraham
Action plan for Solid waste management in Bangalore Ashwin, what you say is true and very doable. One of the key issues I feel is the need to change mindsets in BBMP and their contractors. For example, BESCOM folks come around every one in a while, cut/ trim trees that affect their overhead cables and leave the waste right there. Who is supposed to collect
email feedback@citizenmatters.in this? The BESCOM guys say it is not their job - they just dirty the street and walk away; the BBMP guys or their contractors also argue this is not their work. Bottom line I could (and I do) convert all our home’s wet wastes into compost ; I send to recycling all dry waster AFTER segregating it into paper, plastics and metal/bottles BUT I cannot do anything about the street waste because of the callous attitude of BBMP and their contractors - this arrogance on their part has to be first checked. We all pay taxes AND a garbage cess but do not see any concrete action. And then we talk about converting Bangalore into Singapore !!!! Ashok Kamath
Raising your sons I agree with the above comments that we need to address society attitudes and behaviors of both our young men and women. What I will also add is that we need to stop separating them in schools. My experience in Government Schools is that most boys and girls are separated in sitting and activities from very early ages. This creates a separateness of “them and us” and takes away from them learning to property communicate, respect, understand, and work with both genders. This separation also creates problems when puberty happens. The boys do not know how to property talk or “flirt” with the girls-so they use inappropriate language and behavior, thereby widening the gap even further. In societies, both genders need to be able to work together to create this harmony. The attitude of separating the girls and “protecting” them is also not a valid reason. First of all, we need to change a society that isn’t safe enough that we have to “hide” and
protect our girls. And by isolating the genders, they never learn how to deal with problems, which will present a problem for them when they reach adulthood. Kathryn Kylee
Fighting noise in your neighbourhood Great work..!!! What do we do about the loudspeakers from the religious place which blares daily 5 times? The one near my house has about 8 speakers which blares very loudly. Complaining against them can even lead to communal issues :( Vinut
BESCOM’s Manivannan moots 911 system, top cops skeptical With great regret I make this comment: SHAME ON THE BENGALURU CITY POLICE. I was robbed yesterday 09 Jan at about 8:30PM in the heart of the city - MG Road. when i dialed up 100 I had to be on hold listening to a stupid message saying 100 is your savior and for your safety use it when you are in distress and need help immediately when misused you will be punished...can you believe i had to be in a que for over 5 minutes then a lady official attends to me and she does not know English and I speak in the regional language she doesn’t even understand that and calls another lady official and in a laid back and a unreceiptive manner they say we will look into the matter, and i’m saying these people are still there do something she again says we will see what to do...what a disgraced police we are having for our safety and security...SHAME FULL.
12-Jan-2013
Ashwin
CITIZEN MATTERS 3
Conversations
INTERVIEW: CHANGING POLITICS
R K Misra's plan to
the bad guys His approach seems to make the very essence of one key aspect democracies worldwide — political parties - standup on its head. The founder of Nav Bharat says his organisation is going candidate centric to make the crooks lose elections.
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n top of winning a nationally televised leadership initiative in 2008, this Bangalorean joined the BJP in 2009 just before the Parliamentary elections. His induction was attended by Arun Jaitley and Ananth Kumar. He is well known as a governance 4 CITIZEN MATTERS
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reforms activist and a man who has consistently called for greater engagement of educated citizens in politics. However, today, he has struck out on his own, disappointed with India's political parties. In fact, with his new initiative Nav Bharat he appears to be hitting out against
the party system itself. Meet Bangalorean Rajendra Kumar Misra, 47, better known as 'RK'. Misra has been in the news again recently for his Nav Bharat initiative. His new mission directly takes a central problem in Indian politics: credible and capable
Conversations
o make
lose
candidates do not enter elections. His initiative comes at a time when Indian cities have felt the tremor of mass activism, street protests and disgruntlement with the mainline political establishment. Misra hails from Sonari, a village in Sitapur district of UP. He is a
graduate from IIT Kanpur and a postgraduate from Tokyo University. He is an entrepreneur, a Fellow of Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a Global Leadership Fellow of Aspen Institute, USA. In 2005, on turning 40, he left the corporate world to get into governance activism and inclusive development. He has been associated with several public and public-private initiatives since that span governance, citizen activism and rural livelihoods. In 2008, RK gained fame as the winner of the Lead India initiative, a nationally televised campaign to identify political leaders of the future. RK lives in the Kadugodi area of Bangalore, north of Whitefield, and is Charter President of Rotary Bangalore (IT Corridor). He is also Chief Patron of the Bengaluru International Midnight Marathon event, being held every year in the month of December. When Subramaniam Vincent caught up with Misra for this interview over email, the latter was in Kerala on a political candidate hunt to support through Nav Bharat.
Explain what is 'Nav' in Nav Bharat? Nav Bharat is the new way of politics, truly democratic and candidate centric (as opposed to party centric). Principled and value based. Nav Bharat's mission is to identify, field and help elect credible and capable of our society as our elected representative.
What is the connection between Nav Bharat and Bengaluru Political Action Committee (BPAC)? Are you involved in BPAC too? Are you supporting candidates for 2013 Karnataka elections? Nav Bharat supports initiatives like BPAC in several cities. PACs are an efficient and practical way of citizen engagement in electoral politics. Yes, I am the founder
member of BPAC. Yes, we will support good candidates in 2013 Karnataka elections.
How much money has Nav Bharat raised? We can not discuss this. Fund raising is a continuous exercise and we have sufficient funds to meet our needs.
Leaders in mainline parties have said that good candidates are not able win elections, that is why they do not give tickets to them. Respond. They may be right. Current parties have no space for good candidates. If they give ticket just before election with no time to campaign, candidates will find it tough to win. NB candidates will be announced 12 months in advance. They will be part of a national political platform, will get help with campaign finance, message and communication as well as outreach, both physical and digital.
What in your opinion is the most important criteria for a clean candidate to be a winnable candidate?
The candidate must have proven himself in public life before he enters the electoral fray. He should be known for his work and should be able to connect with the voters. Electoral politics is a huge personal commitment of time and privacy. People should be prepared for the time committment.
What if more good candidates come out (to run), but they do NOT know how to get voters out on polling day to vote for them? How will NB assess the 'winning chances' of a candidate? This forms part of field operation of NB strategy. We will help the candidate in organising booth
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CITIZEN MATTERS 5
Conversations level volunteers and committed supporters in each of the localities. These will help the candidate before the election with the outreach efforts and during the election day in voter mobilisation and booth management.
If a candidate does not campaign in low-income and slum areas actively, does NB think the candidate will win?
Nav Bharat stands for inclusive form of electoral democracy and does not exclude any socioeconomic strata of society. A candidate needs to reach out to every section of society as he is the representative of all his voters.
Will you have an idealogical filter? For e.g. if a candidate of impeccable integrity is running on an CPI ticket but is hardleft leaning from a political standpoint, will Nav Bharat support him or her? We will like to understand from the candidate about his economic and social view points and take a call based on that.
Is there a focus like urban vs rural? Or will you support candidates from any part of India? We do not differentiate between candidates from urban or rural areas.
Citizens tell us regularly that parties are the political brands for them. People ultimately vote for parties, not so much for candidates alone. Even though citizens agree mainline parties have corrupted themselves, they also complain (to media like Citizen Matters) that small and newer parties and independent candidates for instance are not seen doing much on the ground in a widespread 6 CITIZEN MATTERS
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way in between election cycles. Then suddenly during election time, they show up for door to door campaigning. During 2009, independent candidate Captain Gopinath polled about 16000-plus votes for the Bengaluru South MP race. He has not been seen after that in local politics. This is also why voters gets skeptical. People lose, and then walk away. Even established parties don't do much between the elections. However I agree with your observation, if a candidate wants to win he must have been active in public life over the years. People do not respect and vote for fly-by-night
politicians. Politics is a commitment to public service so people have to commit themselves if they want to earn respect and support of the voters. Creating a party is no surety to win the elections. In effect most small parties get caught up in party bureaucracy than focussing on the candidate and electoral management. NB as a party will be focus on getting the right candidates and on efficient electoral management.
"NB as a party". What did you mean by it? Eventually NB will be a party.
But some citizens, especially
Conversations people in Bangalore and Andhra Pradesh, who are following the emerging politics in India will ask 'Why Nav Bharat when there is Aam Aadmi Party? Why AAP when there is Lok Satta? Why Lok Satta when there is Nav Bharat?' What leads you to start NB for funding candidate-driven politics from any party, and yet project that eventually NB itself will become a party?
The short answer is Lok Satta and Nav Bharat discussed coming together. But the Lok Satta brand hasn't delivered so far electorally and is stale. No new people, money and alliances can be built on a brand which hasn't worked for so long. AAP is all about Arvind Kejriwal and is focused on only one agenda. The nation has many issues. Also it's all about what they are against. We don't know what they are for.
Very difficult to attract credible candidates, influential people and financial resources for such a party. Nav Bharat is candidate centric, with zero party bureaucracy. The 'party' will only to identify, field and help elect the committed and credible of our society. Very unlike any of the Indian parties. It's a new approach. Think of Democrats and Republicans. Who is their party president? But we all know who are the presidents of Indian parties. In fact our parties are personal fiefdoms of presidents/ dynasties in India. This is an outdated model. NB will carry on with this new approach. Lok Satta and AAP may join hands with NB as we continue to engage.
Who all are you supporting for 2013 Karnataka?
candidature.
Is NB going to support your friends Ashwin Mahesh and other candidates from Lok Satta? Ashwin Mahesh is a good candidate and we will support him. We will evaluate other candidates too and decide. Our support will be candidate focussed not party based.
What kind of support do you plan to give, overall, to clean candidates? We will provide whatever help candidate may need including campaign finance, data analytics, message and communication as well as outreach and voter mobilisation.
Subramaniam Vincent is co-founder and editor at Citizen Matters.
We will evaluate as and when candidates/parties announce their
Deepdive into India Economy, Human rights, Society, Environment,Women issues, Agriculture, Children, Education, Laws, Media and many more... at
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www.indiatogether.org 12-Jan-2013
CITIZEN MATTERS 7
In Focus EMERGENCY POLICE RESPONSE
BESCOM’s Manivannan moots 911 system, top cops skeptical Following the burst of conversations and analysis on Indian cities and security for women, we looked into why the police’s 100 system does not work like the United States’ 911. See what we discovered and more.
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f late, many suggestions have been floating around on ensuring security to women. One recent suggestion has been by electricity utility BESCOM's Managing Director P Manivannan (IAS), known for his reformist efforts. In a discussion on Facebook last week, Manivannan said that having a 911-like helpline will be a major step in improving police responsiveness. If police tracks calls automatically and reaches a spot within 10 minutes of the call, it will deter criminals, he argued. The current 100-helpline for Bengaluru is inefficient to the point that many do not consider it to be working at all. For a city of 85 lakh (8.5 million), there are only 15 lines for accepting calls, i.e., if none of these lines are free when you call in an emergency, the police cannot help you. Bengaluru city police does not have an estimate of the current response time. "We have not calculated how much time it takes for people to get through to the 8 CITIZEN MATTERS
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helpline, or the time that police takes to reach the spot. There could be delays in reaching the spot because of traffic," says IPS officer Suneel Kumar, ACP (Law and Order). Manivannan has opined that setting up a better helpline will take only two months since the technology for this already exists. Explaining his concept further to Citizen Matters, he says that the helpline should have GIS (Geographic Information System) to track the location of calls automatically; so that the caller can be traced even if she can't speak on the phone. "If the caller's phone is GPSenabled, as most smart phones are, the exact location within 10 meters accuracy will be available. The minute the spot is known, the nearest police vehicle shall rush there. For this, all police patrol vehicles will need a GPS," says Manivannan in an email. He says that there should be more patrol vehicles, and also more phone lines so that calls can be picked within
three rings. Manivannan gives BESCOM's own example. He says BESCOM's helpline - which consumers call for lodging complaints - has more phone lines compared to the police's call centre for the 100 number, in Bengaluru. "We have 25 lines and we are increasing it to 45 by this month end, and by next year we will have 60 lines." He says that the police helpline can be set up as soon as purchases are made and staff are trained.
Skeptical cops The
concept
sounds
easily
In Focus
The 100-helpline alerts constables in Cheetahs and Hoysalas on getting distress calls. Pic: BTP
implementable, but reformist insiders in police opine that there is nothing easy about it. They say that the funds and staff for policing in the state is abysmally low, and that too many reforms are needed for a project like this. S T Ramesh, former DG & IGP of the state, says, "You cannot bring first world systems in a third world country without comprehensive reforms. The police does not have enough staff, money or technology for a 911-like system." Ramesh is a two-time winner of the Police Medal from the President of India, and was awarded a Doctor of iterature for his
'Reflections on Law enforcement'. He says that the state budget for policing in 2007 - ie., the budget for policing divided by total population - was 69 paise per person per day. Even now most Indian states do not spend more than one rupee per head daily for policing. Ramesh also points out that the number of policemen in India is much lesser than that in developed countries. "India has 153 policemen per lakh of population while Portugal has 400. The police here has 90-100 duties a day, and at the end of the day they would still have 25% work left. The police are doing
their best, but their best is still not good enough." In fact, the number of policemen for Bangalore is much lower even compared to other Indian metros. A top cop in the city says on condition of anonymity, that the city's current fleet will have to be doubled at least, for police to function efficiently. He also notes that Delhi has 60,000 policemen for 1.6 crore population and Greater Mumbai has 50,000 policemen for 1.3 cr people. In Bangalore, a city of 85 lakhs, there are 17,000 policemen, notes the official. "Even of this 17,000, effectively there are
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CITIZEN MATTERS 9
In Focus
There are over 350 Cheetah two-wheelers that patrol the city. Pic: BTP
only 9,000 for regular police work. Because 8,000 are in reserve and traffic police," he says. Ramesh opines that having a good budget for policing, and spending it judiciously are key. But anti-corruption top-cop ADGP Rajvir P Sharma takes a different line. Sharma says that even with low budgets, policing can be done by focusing on weaker sections. Sharma currently heads Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) and has proposed police reforms to the government before.
picked up, the helpline will alert the concerned local police station. The officers in this station will decide how to handle the situation. They will ask constables in patrol vehicles to go to the spot first. ACP Suneel Kumar says that there are 110 hoysalas (jeeps) and around 350 cheetahs (two-wheelers) for the city currently. He says that in the case of minor crimes like quarrels, an ASI-rank officer from the station will go. "If there is a major crime like murder, Inspectors will go."
How ‘100' works
Surprise surprise, quiet 911 pilot on
Currently, when you dial 100, calls from the Bengaluru area go to the centre located in the Police Commissioner's office in Infantry Road. There is no single nationallevel system for ‘100'. Once the call is
What has not gotten enough attention though, is the India's quiet 911 pilot ongoing in Hyderbad. According to a report in the magazine India Today last September, GoI's Home Affairs
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On January 3rd, Karnataka Home Minister R Ashoka inaugurated the 24X7 helpline ‘1091’ for women. Though the helpline is based in Bangalore, women from all over the state can call the number. While Bangalore callers can get help immediately, callers from other districts are given counselling and contact numbers of their local police stations and NGOs. The helpline will be managed by DCPs, and a nodal officer will check the overall performance. “There is a frequency on wireless only for contacting Hoysalas. On getting emergency calls, the helpline will alert Hoysalas in this frequency, and vehicles will be dispatched immediately,” says ACP Suneel Kumar. But within two days, media reports emerged quickly that women who tried the system complained of poor response. Citizen Matters tried calling ‘1091’ twice, both times the call went to the child helpline instead. Moral of the story: setting up and making announcements is easy. Making the backend work is the hard part.
In Focus has been a pioneer in Ministry is planning to P Manivannan, MD of BESCOM, training; the GSPP (Gender have a 911-like helpline posted this in response to the article, Sensitisation and Peoplefor the entire country. The in a Facebook conversation. friendly Police Project) in plan is to have a national association with UNICEF 100-helpline which will be I do agree that, we cannot has been going on for a accessible from any phone sustain an island of efficiency in an decade, and there have been anywhere in the country. inefficient environment, as the top improvements. But a lot There will be call centres cop says. Thats why I am saying more has to be done, he says, in all big cities and district that lets outsource 2/3rd of the including even in aspects headquarters; and police, work. Receiving the emergency call, like housing for police. fire or ambulance services tracking, locating and informing "Only 40% of the will be sent to the spot as the nearest police vehicle can be police in the city are given required. outsourced. accommodation. Many The system will have are staying in slums and in the GIS-tracking system The police have to do just 2 peripheral areas of the city, for calls, and GPS-enabled things: 1. Increase the number of travelling long distances patrol vehicles, similar patrol vehicles by two or three fold. to work daily. How can you to what Manivannan has One jeep costs say Rs.5 lakhs. In expect them to be gender proposed. The report says Rs.15 crores you get 300 jeeps, who sensitive while working in that the Bureau of Police can reach anywhere in Bangalore such conditions?" Research and Development in 10 minutes flat! A GPS system Still, it is not just resources (BPRD) - which is in charge will cost another Rs.2-3 crores. and better facilities for cops. of the project - plans to The outsourcing work may cost say According to Rajvir Sharma, implement it by 2014. Rs.10-12 crores. So, in Rs.25 crores what cripples the police BPRD, located in New mainly is lack of autonomy. Delhi, confirmed to Citizen we make Bangalore visibly safer "If police responds at the Matters that the project place. right time on getting a was going on, but refused Considering the last budget of the distress call and find that to give further details over government was Rs.1,00,000 crores, the accused is an influential phone or email. Ironically, Rs.25 crores doesn’t seem to be a person, what happens then? for a system designed big amount! If we want to extend He will not be arrested." to make policing more it to whole of the state, it may cost Sharma says that high accessible, the officials another Rs.75 crores. So, in Rs.100 ranking officers have better in both BPRD and MHA crores, we make all our 6.5 crore salaries and can afford (Ministry of Home Affairs) to take risks. "But for a were too ‘bureaucratic' to people safe! What more, we will have constable, the salary is low divulge details. more free and fair elections too! and they won't want to risk Back in Bengaluru, their neck disobeying an ACP Suneel Kumar was illegal order (from a higher surprisingly not aware Ramesh. He says that sending high of the GoI project, and said that level officers on getting a call could up)." So if a constable or a low nothing associated with it has been make a difference as they are likely ranking police officer is asked to let go of an influential accused, he or going on in Bengaluru. to be more gender sensitive. "But then again, more high level she will likely obey. What about gender sensitive For now, looks like it may be a officers will be needed. Or you can police? train the constables to bring them up while before Indians can be assured Even if there is a well-functioning to the level of officers. There should about a better phone-based police helpline, there is a major concern be good trainers from outside the response system. about how police responds to police also, and funds and buildings; Navya P K is Senior Staff there should be enough policemen crimes against women. Journalist at Citizen Matters. "When a person joins as a to do the additional work of those constable, you cannot expect them being trained. This again comes to suddenly become sensitive back to resources," says Ramesh. Ramesh says that Karnataka to crimes against women," says 12-Jan-2013
CITIZEN MATTERS 11
City News BESCOM SOLAR ROOFTOP INITIATIVE
In the offing: Plans to produce solar power in Bangalore homes Homes fitted with solar panels can sell excess energy to Bescom. Interested citizens and Bescom are discussing how to go about it.
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n the last few years, quite a few individual residents in Bangalore have installed solar panels on their rooftops, that produce electricity to power their homes. A small number of these people have also connected their solar systems to the BESCOM grid and there are many others who would like to so too.
What is Solar Power? Photovoltaic (PV) panels are ones in which the main operating elements are semiconductor materials like Silicon. When sunlight strikes these panels, electric power output is created which is Direct Current (DC power), like that of a battery. To run home electric equipments, one option would be to convert home electrical system to DC power. An easier option is to use an inverter to convert the DC power to AC or Alternating Current that powers our homes. Since solar energy is an intermittent source, a PV based solar power system could produce more power than is being consumed (or less) than required depending on availability of sun. Clearly, at night and in extremely overcast conditions, demand will exceed supply. One solution is to use batteries to store excess power when available or to bridge the deficit at other times. But batteries are expensive and many of them could be required to provide sufficient storage. Another alternative is to connect the solar system to the electric grid such that excess energy can be pushed back into the electric grid and at other times grid power is used to bridge the deficit between solar power produced by the panels and the demand. A grid connected system is cheaper for the user since the cost of a battery bank can be avoided. 12 CITIZEN MATTERS
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PV prices have dramatically dropped over the recent years. Nevertheless, solar power is still expensive compared to other sources. Despite the higher price, many countries have been looking at rooftop solar in order to reduce their carbon footprint by getting more energy from renewable power. Producing power locally also means that T&D (Transmission and Distribution) losses are smaller. Rooftop solar is attractive because solar is a distributed resource and using rooftop systems reduces land requirements of solar power.
Grid Connected Systems Globally, Germany is the world leader when it comes to the installed base of grid connected solar systems. Several years ago, Germany made a commitment to grid connected solar and announced a very attractive Feed in Tariff (FIT). According to that policy, a consumer could install solar systems on their roof and sell power back to the electric company, which was obligated to buy that power at the announced (FIT) rate. In some other countries, the concept of net-metering was adopted meaning that the meter ran forward when the consumer was using power from the grid and backwards (!) when power was being pushed back. The consumer then pays the net bill at the end of the month. In grid connected solar, the consumer becomes a prosumer (producer plus consumer). In India, Gujarat state has been the only state to have a solar rooftop policy. A pilot was run in Gandhinagar targeting 5MW of power from rooftop solar. The model there was a little different. Two aggregator companies set up the grid connected PV plants on rooftops of willing building owners. The
City News
12-Jan-2013
CITIZEN MATTERS 13
City News arrangement was such that the building owner gets Rs 3 for every unit of electricity sold to the grid from the PV plant. The burden of financing and setting up the plant rested on the aggregator company - in this case, Sun Edison and Azure Power. The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission defined a generous feed in tariff of around Rs 11 a unit for a period of 25 years.
Pic courtesy: stfi.org
Rooftop Solar in Bangalore BESCOM has been approached by several private citizens as well as other organizations who are interested in connecting their rooftop solar PV systems to the electric grid. P Manivannan, the MD of BESCOM responded and invited citizens to a meeting at the BESCOM offices one Saturday. In the first meeting, due to lack of publicity to citizens, it turned out that I was the only citizen participant. The meeting concluded with a tentative decision to target 10MW of power generation from rooftop solar PV. Subsequently, a Facebook discussion on this topic got reactions from more people. At a second meeting at the BESCOM office, there was wide participation, with representatives from BESCOM, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL), local PV cell manufacturers and EPC (Engineering Procurement and Construction) contractors, research and policy organisations and citizens. This meeting helped in clarifying several important aspects and helped establish ground reality. BESCOM has a renewable power purchase obligation which specifies that a certain fraction of energy purchased must be generated from renewable sources. Currently, BESCOM is able to meet such obligations from existing sources. So there is not too much incentive to look at solar rooftop as a source of renewable power. KREDL is also not particularly inclined towards 14 CITIZEN MATTERS
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rooftop solar. Second, despite recent drop in prices, rooftop solar power is more expensive compared to grid power and incentives are needed to make it attractive. The tariff offered by Gujarat for rooftop solar is around Rs 11 per unit. BESCOM's financials are not strong enough to support large incentivised Feed in Tariffs for rooftop solar power, without being subsidised by the state or centre. Without an attractive tariff, third party vendors would not be interested in undertaking such a venture, like they have done in Gujarat. Other concerns related to technical aspects. BESCOM is reluctant to connect produced solar power to the low voltage (three phase 415 Volt or single phase 240 Volt) grid. They prefer producers connecting at the 11000 Volt level (in other words, on the high voltage side of a transformer). The Gujarat rooftop programme however allowed 240 /415Volt interconnection. BESCOM is also concerned with dealing with a lot of individual prosumers and an approval process for each one. Hence they prefer the Gujarat approach of using aggregator firms who in turn deal with consumers. However, without an attractive Feed in Tariff, third parties would not be interested since they cannot make money. Industry representatives asked for tariff at levels comparable to Gujarat
range for it to be attractive.. Currently, these issues are being debated. The DSM (Demand Side Management) team in BESCOM is coordinating the discussion. There are representatives from both citizen and industry groups involved. Hopefully, a consensus will be arrived at that allows more grid connected rooftop system in Bangalore. BESCOM now plans to ensure 10 Mega Watts of solar-rooftop this year, with net-metering. Solar power can be fed into the grid at 415 Volts. But, there will a cap on the quantity of power that can be injected. It shall not be more than 10% of the network capacity at 415 Volts. BESCOM has formed a steering team that includes members of the public too. It has sent a draft cabinet note to government on solar-roof top policy. Since BESCOM expects it would be hard to coordinate with individual consumers in addition to their existing responsibilities, it plans to call for tenders to invite a few agencies, who will work on behalf of BESCOM with individuals installing rooftop-solar systems to ensure proper regulatory compliance while connecting to the grid.
Sanjay is a mechanical engineer working for one of the city’s MNC firms. He lives in BBMP ward 85 (Doddanekkundi).
Features TIPU SULTAN’S STORY AT BANGALORE FORT
“The Tiger comes to town” project at Bangalore Fort brings Tipu Sultan alive to a new generation. And, perhaps, awakens lost pride in Bangalore’s history. Shadow play, staged by volunteers. Pic:DM
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other and father are discussing family matters. They deplore the mischief of their two boys, and also express wry amusement at the younger one's original thinking, that lies behind the mischief. However, the father predicts that this boy will leave footprints on the sands of time, and go on to become famous. Almost a scene played out in every home, one may feel...but it was, actually, a scene from a play on Tipu Sultan, by the late Dina Mehta, who was an award-winning playwright and Fiction Editor at the Illustrated Weekly of India. The father in question in this play is no ordinary householder... he is Hyder Ali, and his son will, in time, will turn out to be the Tiger of Mysore...Tipu Sultan. And so, with this play and a landmark event, Tipu came home, briefly, to his own Fort in Bangalore. "The Tiger Comes to Town" was a very interesting multi-media project, organised on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Archaeological Society of India
(ASI). The Centre for Public History (CPH) of the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology (SSADT), the Archaeological Society of India (ASI), and the Bangalore Little Theatre (BLT), all played their parts in bringing this event before the public, in the historic premises of the Bangalore Fort...a first for our city. The event was sponsored by Ganjam, the noted jewellers of Bangalore. This is the first time in Bangalore that a historic venue has been thrown open for holding such an event, and staying a historical play. The project focused on the Bangalore Fort, and had an amalgam of events from October through December 2012. It included Docent Walks (guided walks) by the students of SSADT for the general public, a shadow puppet play tent for young visitors, information panels, a booklet on aspects of the fort, soundscapes from oral history (recorded interviews conducted with local communities), a lecture series focusing on science and
technology in the 18th century (especially Tipu's fascination for rockets) and a site-specific theatre performance. The tiger was chosen as a motif, as Tipu himself chose the animal to embellish his soldiers' uniforms, coins, flags, weapons, armour, and even his throne. A beautiful booklet, produced by CPH, described about the various aspects of Tipu's life and kingship. The information panels, set up at various points around the fort, gave a lot of information, historic and contemporary, to visitors. The short shadow play sessions conducted by the students ran to packed houses. Several children found their sense of history being awakened...as did the adults with them! The shadow play depicted the Battle for Bangalore, when Lord Cornwallis, aided by the treachery of Tipu's trusted lieutenants, fought Tipu and breached the fort, resulting in the ultimate defeat and death of Tipu Sultan. The lighting of the fort was very striking, and Shashank Purushottam,
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the President of Bangalore Little Theatre, and and his team, deserve praise for the historical stage-set, beautifully lit up in the dark. Naturally, the play, "Tiger! Tiger!" was the highpoint of the event. For a description of the "History of Ideas" programme, that this play was a part of, click here. Aliyeh Rizwi, the former President of BLT, who directed the play ably, ensured that every member of the cast (including the volunteer "guards"!) played their roles extremely well. The play was an unusual depiction of Tipu -instead of focusing on him as a king and a warrior, it delineated the inner trauma and dilemmas of a man who 16 CITIZEN MATTERS
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would "rather be a philosopher than a king"... and the outer conflicts of court intrigue, conspiracy, and betrayal. The period costumes were also extremely well done. Sometimes, the cumbersome robes of the 18th century can be difficult to move around in; turbans have a way of falling off in mid-performance; but no such mishaps were visible during the performance. Padmaja Nagarur, who played Fakhr-unNissa, the mother of Tipu, joked that sometimes the stage itself was not too stable! I was also struck by the quality of the audio during the performance. Amazingly, the noise of the traffic
outside the Fort (and it is a very noisy neighbourhood!) did not percolate into the inner quadrangle, at all, and most of the dialogue was very clear indeed. The microphones and the speakers, placed carefully around the quadrangle, worked marvellously. Simple stage props made up the set design, and it was the script and the actors who were highlighted. The only nit I have to pick was that the actors did start raising their voices too much towards the end of the play, as the content got more intense and emotional. Also, the words of the "Englishmen" were not always clear to the listeners, and some grumbling was heard
Features
Lighting of the “jaali� windows of the Fort. Pic: DM
The cast after the show. Pic: DM
amongst the audience. But it's a known story, the tragedy of Tipu's betrayal...so it didn't cause much of a hitch in the proceedings.
A sense of history Though the fort sits in the heart of our city, little is talked or discussed about it by lay residents. The people of the locality go about their trade and commerce not particularly aware of, or appreciative of, the landmark in their midst. Indeed, the walls of the fort seem to support a whole host of traders, hawking varied wares, oblivious of the history in the stones behind their backs! The students of the Srishti School had researched this aspect
of the historic Fort. They decided to rely on secondary sources as well as archival research. In 2012, for a period of three months, they concentrated on the iconography and the architecture of the 18th century, and examined both legends and stories of the local people, to arrive at an understanding of how to make their own narratives about the fort compelling to their listeners, during the conducted walks. The Battle for Bangalore, fought on March 21, 1791, between Lord Cornwallis and Tipu, was obviously, a turning point in the history of the fort. The fort later fell into disuse as war technology and the importance of the region changed. Today, it stands, a jewel from the past, in the middle of a bustling marketplace. Another source used by the project is "Tipu's Dream Diary", which was found by Colonel Kirkpatrick in the inner chambers of Srirangapatna after Tipu's death. This diary records over 37 dreams in a period of 13 years, from 1785 to 1798. The diary was translated from Persian into English in 1800, and dated according to the "Mouladi"...a calendar created by Tipu himself. The dreams are varied, but they show his preoccupation with the British, whom he regarded as his main enemies.
As the SSADT project drew to a close, two pieces of cannon, probably from Tipu's foundry, were accidentally excavated on the construction site of the Bangalore Metro Railway, not far from the fort. Once again, the past had resurfaced in the present! The students of SSADT feel, unanimously, that the local residents need to realise the importance of this landmark amidst them; Though the ASI preserves the structure, its value in terms of the history of the city needs to be re-stressed so that Bangaloreans take fresh pride in this bastion where a king tried his level best to repudiate and defeat the British Raj, and died heroically in the effort.
Deepa Mohan is a freelance writer and avid naturalist.
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Opinion PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE
How to recognise if you have diabetes It is worthwhile knowing your diabetes status and taking necessary actions.
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he good news is that at least half the number of diabetes patients can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes by simple lifestyle modifications. The bad news is: at least 50% of diabetics are not aware that they have diabetes. They are not aware of signs and symptoms which can help them recognise if they have diabetes, and manage it accordingly before it causes damage to vital organs. What then should alert you if you are at risk of diabetes, or have diabetes. Some of the common symptoms that should alert you are: Increased appetite Increased thirst Increased urination. Increasing fatigue, sometimes nausea and vomiting. Unexplained weight loss, in spite of good appetite. Headaches. Blurred vision Impotence Delayed healing of cuts and wounds Numbness and tingling of hands and feet. In a few cases, the first signs may be certain complications.
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Doosra (The Story of Cricket) English Play Sun 13 Jan '13, 03:30 pm To 07:00 pm See the play! Help the lake!
The common complications of diabetes include neuropathy due to involvement of peripheral nerves, leading to tingling sensation in hands and feet. In feet, the altered sensory input means that they are more prone to get ulcers on foot, or toes. This may be further complicated with peripheral circulation issues. Diabetes can cause inflammation of peripheral blood vessels- a condition known as Microangitis. If you have any of the above symptoms, it is worthwhile getting checked for blood sugar. Typically, it involves getting your fasting as well as post-prandial sample tested, i.e. getting your sample once after a few hours of fasting, and once two hours after eating. Some try to cheat themselves by preparing for the test. Before getting the test done, they stop eating sugar, carbohydrates, sweets, and then return to eating a lot once the test report is out and indicates results are within normal range. If you really wish to know your correct status, get HbA1C test done which reflects the diabetic control. The other tests which are usually advised include glucose tolerance test
Doosra (The Story of Cricket) is an English play being staged in Bangalore - 13th Jan 2013, in aid of PNLIT. A must watch for theatre and/or cricket lovers. Doosra's protagonist is the Game of Cricket itself. The changes in the game are depicted through the life of an ambitious and talented 20 year old Ganesh who gets to represent the country. Driven by power, politics, money and pressure, Ganesh's metamorphosis illustrates the changing phase of the game which, over the years has grown from a much loved sport to a commercial venture. Written and directed by Anand Raghav, two shows of the play are being staged in aid of PNLIT (Puttenahalli Lake Trust) on 13th Jan 2013, 3:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. For donor passes please contact Sujata - sujathaleo@yahoo.com, Cell 9880054070 Usha - puttenahalli.lake@gmail. com, Cell 7259722996 Nupur - nupur21@gmail.com, Cell 9886629769 Ramaswamy - opr.sulo@gmail. com, Cell 9845079076
Col (Retd) Dr Mukul Saxena has over 30 years of cross-functional expertise in healthcare, both in public and private sectors
Donations to PNLIT are exempt u/s 80G of the IT Act. MLR Convention Centre, Brigade Millennium, JP Nagar 7th Phase, Bangalore 560078
Tracker WOMENS ISSUES IN THE NEWS
Taking stock of 2012 for women and Bengaluru This past year, women and girl children in the city have been unsafe as before. Here is a quick summary of key developments including what citizens were doing.
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he death of the 23-year-old Delhi girl after her gang rape and brutality shook the conscience of the nation, even as more and more stories continue to be reported. Bengaluru has had its own share of cases involving sexual violence against women and 2012 was no different, indicating that the remains far from safe. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics for 2011, Bangalore had ranked fourth among cities of the country in recorded rape cases. Early in 2012, C C Patil, Minister for Women and Child Welfare, had advised women to “dress appropriately” so that they do not face sexual harassment. It turned out also that Patil and Lakshman Savadi also a Karnataka minister, were caught watching a porn clip at an assembly session in February. In April 2012, a three-month old baby girl Afreen was battered to death by her father. The father reportedly wanted a boy child. Also in April, a woman delivered a baby girl on a road in Bangalore and died. No passerby on the road, or the shopkeeper she met before walking away called 108, which could saved her. Also in April, a girl gave birth to a baby after being raped by a family acquaintance. Her father had to fight in court to get her school to let her continue her education. The
community wanted him to even get the girl married off to the rapist! Four rape cases in Bengaluru hit the headlines in October 2012. One was that of a law student and the other of three bar girls. Women’s rights groups were quick to demand action in November. In a Citizen Matters article, Padmalatha Ravi pointed out that here too, there was debate about the character and behaviour of the victims and so forth. K K Seethamma, former head of the Women Studies Department at Bangalore University proclaimed, “All we need to do as women is to protect ourselves by wearing good clothes.” Even in public spaces, abuse occurred frequently. Recently, Swar Thanoujam, a playwright, was allegedly sexually harassed by a mob of 40 men, after a minor road accident and argument. In the meantime rape and molestation cases continue to emerge in Bengaluru as around the rest of India. Nearly a 100 cases were reported by NCRB in 2011. Bangalore is only next to Delhi in the total number of crimes against women with 1890 cases in 2011. Women’s rights group Vimochana reminded Bangaloreans in December that if molestations, abductions, child sexual abuse, harassment and abuse on the streets, in buses and other public spaces were not even being
counted accurately. The actual number could be much higher. 2012’s record is not yet out officially. With dozens of rape and molestation cases in the city being reported over the year, citizens also became more outspoken. Several events were organised to bring awareness and address the vexing issue. In May 2012, the annual Global Walk for India's Missing Girls was held in the city. It went from the Haji Ismail Sait mosque in Frazer Town to Coles Park. The walk put the focus again on female foeticide and the killing of girls even after birth, such as the baby Afreen incident. Also in May, a new self-defence training programme was offered to Bangalorean women. Instead of training women in martial arts, this approach uses the Israeli Krav Maga Self Defense system. It teaches women to prevent, escape or avoid molestation, eve-teasing and rape using a system adapted from human reflex actions. In late December, after the New Delhi incident and the national outrage, Bangaloreans have been organising protests and vigils demanding justice and action from the government till date.
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In Focus
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In Focus PROTEST AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Bengaluru protestors looking for deeper change The collective outrage in Bengaluru after the Delhi incident has been quite visible both on the streets and in social media. Thousands were involved, and this time was different from earlier protests.
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here has been outrage in the country after the recent Delhi gangrape case. The ripples have been felt in Bengaluru too. Different groups in the city, ranging from feminists, political parties, students and IT employees have been protesting. There have been protests in the city earlier, on issues of violence against women with barely 2030 activists participating. The number of male protesters would be negligible. The protest would often be seen as so irrelevant that the public would not give a second glance. If there was no police permission given, there would be no gentle treatment from the police either. A group of people attempted to organise a ‘slut walk’ earlier this year; students who attended were chased and hit, and even detained by the police. ‘Slut walk’ was meant to make a statement -- that women should not be sexually abused, irrespective of the clothes they wear.
So what’s new now? This time, the story is entirely different. Protests have been happening with or without police permission. Hundreds of people have been on the streets, and not just activists. Quite a few men are there too. On December 30th, a protest ‘Men against sexual violence,
men for gender justice’ was held at Town Hall exclusively for men to pledge their support for women. Overall, there are calls being made for death penalty and castration, but there are also those who say that gender equality is the solution. Many protests were vocal about different types of violence against women, including objectification in media. The protests are spread across different parts of the city, and at least a hundred are seen participating in each. What could be the reason for the strong protests now? Protesters say that their anger is not only about the Delhi case, but about all such cases occurring everyday. One of the protesters Mubida Rahman, 26, says, “I have been sexually harassed before, and did not get help many times. We have reached a level where we can’t keep quiet anymore. Its already late, but it makes no sense being apathetic.” Mubida, who works in an NGO, was part of the ‘Freedom Miles’ walk from Basavangudi to Jayanagar 4th block on December 29th. The walk was organised by political groups like Praja Rajya Vedike (PRV), and feminist/human rights organisations like Vimochana and Alternative Law Forum. Activists from sexual minority groups and garment workers’ union also participated. Most women opined
that violence against women will end only when all forms of gender discrimination end. The protesters, men and women, were seen holding placards saying ‘I am a feminist’, ‘Stop objectification of women’ etc. Zubair Siddique, a protester at Freedom Miles, said, “This is my first protest, and I feel bad about having taken so long to speak about this. Men’s mindset has to change, and it has to start from the family.” Siddique, 28, is a web analyst. He says that the most disturbing aspect is public apathy, and that he is protesting to create awareness among public that they should help women in distress. Seasoned women’s right activists are positive about the public response. “Anger has been simmering for long. Working on rape cases, we see that laws are never enforced. With the Delhi incident, the anger just came out,” says Donna Fernandes of Vimochana. In the Freedom Miles protest, many had come after seeing event notices in social media like Facebook. Many opined that the Delhi case might be getting huge response because of extensive coverage of it. TCS employee Shivani Sharma, 33, says that without social media, there were no channels to organise protests earlier either. “Earlier you could not do anything alone; you had to join a political
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In Focus party to do something. Now with social media, we can organise and act on our own,” she says. Many protests had been planned in very short time spans. ‘The Orange Revolution’, a movement started by Delhi-based student Sonakshi Samtani, managed to organise protests throughout the country only through Facebook. Sonakshi’s friends in Bangalore held a candlelight vigil and a developed an agenda on preventing attacks on women. Blank noise project had women taking the safe city pledge on January 1st at MG Road, Gandhi statue. Discussions are still going strong online; many women are sharing their personal stories through blogs and social media. For instance, a Facebook group called ‘Society of Painted Dented Ladies of India’ was formed after Congress MP Abhijit Mukherjee’s infamous comment on women protesters. Started by Rashmi Vallabajyosula, a Bangalore based marketing consultant, it quickly hatched up more than 1000 members in a few hours. The left group AIDWA (All India Democratic Women’s Association) had organised five protests in the city on the issue. The organisation already works with colleges on gender issues, and many college students came forward for the protests, says K S Vimala, Karnataka state Vice President of AIDWA. “Protests help draw the attention of society, not just government. It also helps make students and youth aware,” she says.
Beyond law, it is society’s attitude Donna says that law is just one dimension of women’s safety, and that others should be addressed. Opining that violent attacks could be a backlash to women’s growing independence, she says, “Now a days women are going out and fighting for their rights. Rape is a weapon of power upon women.” 22 CITIZEN MATTERS
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Deepthi R, a 29-year-old tech professional working in Electronic City, is part of the IT women employees’ collective named ITHI. She has been part of a protest and a condolence meet organised by ITHI and its sister organisation ITEC (IT/ITES Employees Centre). The protest recognised rape as a form of discrimination against women, and called to end all gender discrimination. Even among her colleagues, Deepthi says, the mindset is backward. “The men who work with us say that they are for gender equality. Then they go home and beat their wives, or force them to compromise their career to look after the family. On the road if I just overtake a man’s bike, he cannot even handle that; he will come after me.” For Deepthi, in addition to the Delhi rape incident, the statements made by some politicians later blaming women for rapes, was a trigger to protest. Recent press reports on the lax attitude of police in taking action against rapes, high number of reported cases in Bangalore etc, made the issue more serious for her. Shubha Chacko of Aneka, an NGO that works with sexual minorities, says, “Our idea is to reclaim the city. Violence is a message for women to go back, we are saying that we won’t go back.”
What do they demand? Though there is general agreement that there should be change socially and also in justice system, the focus is different for different groups. Many feminist and human rights groups have denounced extreme punishments including death penalty. Instead they demand speedy justice, and also review and implementation of two bills - Criminal Law Amendment Bill, 2012, and The Protection of Women Against Sexual Harassment At Workplace Bill, 2010. The demands of the organisers
of Freedom Miles included having fast track courts, independent investigation into how police/ state government responds to sexual violence cases etc. Manohar Elavarthi of Praja Rajya Vedike and an organiser of the walk, says, “We should look at deeper issues. Some campaigns are hate campaigns and go back to showing protectionism towards women, instead of treating them as equals.” On the other extreme is groups like Youth For Nation (YNF), a
In Focus
collective of students and youth, present in six states, who demand death penalty, bobbitisation, chemical castration etc. YNF has held three protests so far. “Death penalty is needed, because in India people do not get scared until there is a law,” says Sahil Khosla, 20, State Secretary of YNF. Khosla believes that social change is not happening fast enough, and hence justice system should change. YNF has demanded police protection and humane approach
in prosecution for victims and witnesses in rape cases. They also say that non-bailable arrest warrants should be issued against accused, and that the President should not consider mercy petitions of convicted rapists. Vimala K S of AIDWA, says that death penalty can be given only in the rarest of rare cases. “Death penalty is not a deterrent, and there could be cases where the wrong person is caught, considering our police system.” AIDWA has a long
set of demands including making police gender-sensitive, more policewomen and police patrolling, strict punishment for all forms of sexual harassment etc. Vimala says that moral science in school syllabus should be replaced with gender sensitisation. “There is enough morality already, telling women how to walk, talk and behave like Seetha-Savithri. Instead of all this, we should teach students that women should be treated as equals.”
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In Focus
What next? Though many protesters were doubtful about the future of the movement, many of them seemed to have their own plans to take it forward. Most groups are sending suggestions to the Justice J S Verma committee. The Central Government had formed the committee after the Delhi incident, to recommend stricter laws so as to prevent violence against women. Many groups are planning further discussions to keep the issue 24 CITIZEN MATTERS
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alive or to create support systems for women. The Freedom Miles coalition, for instance, is planning to have a walk once every week in a different area in Bangalore. There are plans to follow up on 5-6 rape cases, and efforts to start a helpline for women. ITHI/ITEC plans to have discussions online on sexual assault bill and workplace harassment bill, and on what more can be done on these. Sahil Khosla says YNF will hold
a hunger strike until death penalty is made mandatory for rapists. YNF has started a missed call system to get more people to volunteer for them on the issue of crimes against women. Khosla claims that about 1.2 lakh people have reached out to YNF so far. The group is also planning to organise more selfdefence workshops for girls in schools and colleges. Then there are smaller groups starting off their own work. Mubida Rahman, as part of her group of 4-5
In Focus
You were not born in my house As you breathe your last Why am I gasping for breath? You were not born in my house As my daughter I did not rock you in my arms When you were a child I did not hear your shrieks of joy Reverberate in my heart... But how come your shrieks of pain Reach me from thousands of miles away... As you go quiet and silent...
as millions of voices speaking out your pain You would not have been killed by Ram Singh and gang But for failure of those Who were duty bound to protect you, but did not Who were responsible to see that Supreme Court orders are complied with (Buses should not have black films or tinted glass) who should have acted on complaint of man robbed by same gang few minutes back! but did not! You were not born in my house I did not rock you in my arms I did not hear your shrieks of joy Reverberate in my heart... When you were a child Yet I grieve for you my child And many more like you As a father would... - Dr. Mukul Saxena is a columnist.
friends, is planning to hold events highlighting the issue. The group has been working on different social issues for the last few months. Many protesters said that they would take part in further protests. Some others, like Shivani Sharma, who works at an Indian tech-MNC, said that it was difficult to continuously work for the cause, because of other responsibilities. ITHI/ITEC held a protest on December 31st at Brigade Road saying that this New Year was no
occasion to celebrate. There are also further protests by different groups in the next few days. Veteran activists say they cannot predict whether this would become a long term movement or would fizzle out soon, but are happy that at least the government is taking notice. Donna says, “I hope the issue is not forgotten soon, but every issue has its limitations. I think there are going to be sporadic protests until government wakes up. As elections are nearing, political parties may
react and government may amend the law. But the struggle is far bigger than this.�
Navya P K is Senior Staff Journalist at Citizen Matters. Shamala Kittane also contributed to this story.
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In Focus
WATER FOR URBAN POOR
No new year in Bengaluru’s w starved slums 26 CITIZEN MATTERS
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In Focus
The bathroom in Aisha’s house where the water pots are stored. Pic: Navya P K
New Years may come and go, but for Aisha and her lot in Ejipura’s slum near Koramangala in south Bangalore, getting water is an ordeal each day. In a world where jobs matter for everything, she had to leave hers. Children in Ejipura slum take a break in between carrying water. Pic: Navya P K
n water
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he tin sheet shacks in Ejipura EWS (Economically Weaker Section) quarters are lined up so close to each other, that it is not easy to tell one house from the next. Outside the shacks, little girls and boys are seen carrying small pots of water which they have collected from somewhere. In one of the houses stays Aisha (name changed), with her husband, four children, and parents-in-law. Like most families here, this family of eight also does not get water to their house. Aisha, 38, spends a lot of her time standing in queue in front of public taps. Her son, the oldest, is 15 and studying in a madrassa. Her three daughters are aged 11, nine and seven years. All three of them study
in an Urdu school in Austin Town. It is around 3 pm on a weekday, and the children are back from school. The girls are busy doing their homework, bent down on a thin carpet on the otherwise bare floor of the living room. They are quiet, looking up quizzically and smiling sometimes, and then getting back to their books. The small living room only has a cupboard, TV, and a table upon which clothes and pretty much all belongings of the family are piled up. Aisha's husband, also 38, is an auto driver. Fair and sturdy, dressed in a pink salwar-kameez, Aisha is busy moving around the house, cooking and doing other chores. She catches her breath in between, talking about her problems for a couple of
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In Focus minutes, and then moving on to do some more work. Her sister-in-law who stays nearby - is around, giving more details of the problems here. Aisha had not always been a homemaker. She used to work as a domestic help, supplementing her husband's income. But now she spends hours searching for and collecting water daily. This, in addition to taking care of the children, led her to give up her job. She only goes to work rarely, when her former employer calls her in case of an emergency. The problem is that even the public taps in the quarters do not have water everyday. While BWSSB can boast of having put public taps in most slums, the fact is the taps are dry most of the time. In Ejipura quarters, over 1500 houses are spread across a huge area, one row after the other. But water comes only in a few public taps close to the main road. That too, once in two days, for four hours in the night. Aisha often goes with her motherin-law or neighbour to collect this water. The family owns only eight plastic water pots; water can be collected in these only. There is only as much space inside the tiny bathroom in the house, to store the pots. Each pot has capacity of 15 litres. In addition to the bathroom, there is only the living room, and a kitchen with space for only one person to stand. The water for drinking and cooking is stored in a big steel vessel in the kitchen. It is too heavy to be used for collecting water, and is used for storing it only. The eight pots of water that Aisha collects from the public tap is supposed to last for two days, but often it doesn't. The family's requirement is much higher. Aisha says that she adjusts somehow. Everyday, some 6-7 pots of water are for drinking and cooking alone. Aisha cooks thrice a day for the family. She uses one bucket of 28 CITIZEN MATTERS
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water to clean the house daily. The drinking glasses and plates are kept on the floor itself as there is no other furniture. "Since the area of the house is less, one bucket is enough. If it is not cleaned daily, we may fall ill," she says. A lot of water is spent for washing clothes too. Washing is done once a week, and 15-20 pots are needed for this. If washing a few clothes is urgent, Aisha collects some water somehow and uses it. Bathing is a luxury that happens once in 2-3 days. She says that much of the water is needed for children. She sends half-a-litre water bottles for each of them to school. "The children have
to be sent clean to school. Their uniform has to be washed regularly," she says.
From one tap to the next, in search of water Like most people in the quarters here, Aisha too goes around seeking water daily. She could get lucky sometimes. There is a church about ten minutes walk from the slum, where a public tap sometimes gives water. Another source is the borewell water which gets pumped into the public toilets in the slum. "We take water from the tap outside the toilets. As long as power is there, water gets pumped into this tap. But power cuts are very common here,"
In Focus Ejipura Slum. File pic
Ejipura Slum. File pic
says Aisha. In addition to all this, almost everyday, Aisha's husband, an auto driver, has to go all the way to Viveknagar to fetch water from a public tap. After completing his work at night, he goes by auto with the water pots. He has had health problems for the last 12 years, and had a surgery very recently. Aisha is not happy about him going to work or bringing water, as he is still not in good health. "But we have taken debts for the surgery, so he has to work. After going around in the auto for the whole day, he again has to go to fetch water late at night. I cannot go by myself as the area is too far," says Aisha. She 12-Jan-2013
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In Focus
Ejipura Slum. File pic
says that using the auto for fetching water is an additional expense.
Battle for water Because of severe shortage, there is conflict within the community for water. Often, those living close to these taps get more ownership over it. Aisha says that the houses nearby have taken illegal connections from the taps to their own houses. "They have fixed motors on public taps and collect this water in tanks. Once water comes at 7 pm, they collect it till 8.30 - 9 pm. Only then can others start collecting. These people also demand money from us often, and also ask us to pay for repairs of their motors," explains Aisha's sister-in-law, who stays nearby. Even then, people start standing in queue by 7 pm. By the time most people get water, it would be 10.30 - 11 pm. Water supply also stops by then. Aisha says that there have been times when she stood in queue till 11 pm, and had to come back without any water. "Some plead for water, others fight with those who take water from illegal connections. If only us women are going, we cannot do 30 CITIZEN MATTERS
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much. Generally it is difficult for women to go alone at night here," says Aisha. There are a few lanes in the quarters that have public taps, but water does not come to most of these. Aisha's lane does not have any taps at all. For namesake, there is a tap in the bathroom of her house, but water has never come to this tap. It's the same with most houses here.
Health problems common Everyone uses the damaged public toilets - three each for men and women. There is a queue daily from 6 to 8 am, to use the toilet. Residents have to pay Rs 2 for every time they use it. "This itself is a cost for the family. It is embarassing for women and young girls to stand out in the queue to use the toilet," Aisha says. Dengue and chikungunya is frequent here, even among children. Water that is stored for long, leads to mosquito breeding which causes these diseases. The water from public taps is such that, worms start appearing if it is stored for 3-4 days, Aisha says. Sometimes the water simply is dirty. This water is used for all purposes except drinking.
Aisha is well aware that her family is more vulnerable to diseases if water is not boiled. She keeps the borewell water collected from near the public toilets, for drinking and cooking. This water is salty, but not as polluted as public tap water. But she says that she cannot afford to use the gas frequently to boil water. "I am also worried because now only six gas cylinders can be used in a year. Ours is a large family, and we have to make the cylinder last somehow," she says. She boils water only when any of the children are unwell. There is no money to buy a water filter. Today is one of the days when water comes, and Aisha is finishing chores early and getting ready to stand in yet another long queue. As 2012 ends in Bengaluru and 2013 begins, Aisha and others here are not expecting any change. Conditions have been like this for long.
Navya P K is Senior Staff Journalist at Citizen Matters.
City News
Stabling Line at Peenya Depot. Pic: bmrc.co.in
NAMMA METRO PROGRESS UPDATE
2013: Will Bengaluru’s Metro expand from a miniscule 6kms? There is some progress and yet plenty of ‘approvals pending’ in the long journey of the city’s metro project. Here are some things you may know, and some you need to.
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oing by the schedule given by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), the 42.3 kilometers long Phase-1 of Namma Metro should be ready by the mid of 2014. However, the project is running behind schedule by almost 2 years. The traffic volume is increasing twofold each year, says one expert M N Srihari. The metro is believed to be the one project that can make commuting easier and would help decongesting roads. The major cause of delay
in Phase-1 is land acquisition. Reach-3 line between Swastik in Malleshwaram and Hessarghatta Cross was scheduled for a launch in December 2012. It was expected to have benefited hundreds of office goers and industry workers as the line passes through Peenya that has a concentration of industrial and business establishments. Residents of the heavily populated Malleshwaram would also have benefited. The Managing Director of
BMRCL, N Sivasailam has specified that Reach-3 and Reach-3 A between Sampige Road and Peenya which is a 10.5 km long line would be launched this year in July. Land acquisition hurdles have been the biggest reason for delay in the launch of Reach-3. These hurdles have been cleared. Another factor contributing to delay is the construction of 66 metre span viaduct. The structure has to be fully verified and approval has to be given by the Commissioner of Metro
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City News
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City News Reach -2 (Magadi Road to Mysore Road Terminal) Viaduct: Overall progress 95%. Stations: Deepanjalinagar, Magadi Road, Tollgate, Hosahalli, Vijayanagar - Overall progress 62%. Reach -3 (Swastik to Yeshwanthpur) Stations: Yeshwanthpur, Soap Factory, Mahalakshmi Stations, Rajajinagar, Kuvempu Road Srirampura: Overall 67%. Reach-4 (K R Market - RV Road) Stations: K R Road, Lalbagh, South End Circle, Jayanagar, R V Road - Overall progress 81% Reach-3b (Peenya Village to Hesaragatta Cross Station) Stations: Jalahalli, Hesaragatta Cross, Dasarahalli Reach - 4a (RV Road to Puttenahalli Cross) Stations: Banashankari, J P Nagar, Puttenahalli Cross - Overall work progress 44 %.
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City News Rail Safety since it will pass over the Indian Railway Bridge. The design also has to be aesthetically correct. "We are expecting to start the work on this important structure in two months," says BMRCL spokesperson B L Yashwanth Chavan. Two lines to be launched in 2013 Bangaloreans will be happy to know that along with Reach-3 line, Namma Metro also plans to launch Reach-4 line between KR Market and RV Road this year. Construction work on this line is nearing completion. "We are planning to launch Reach-4 by last quarter of 2013. There is no depot at Reach-4 and in order to have temporary support, we have written to the Commissioner of Railway Safety to allow us to make temporary arrangements. If Commissioner gives us a green signal, we will build a temporary stabling area for cleanup and repair of coaches near pocket tracks on KR Road," says N Sivasailam.
Ambedkar statue a controversy delaying underground stretch Underground metro work is going on swiftly near Vidhana Soudha though there are challenges posed by tedious digging through solid rock. Work is also proceeding without shifting of the Ambedkar statue. The High Court on December 2nd, 2012 had issued an order stating that the state government should direct BMRCL to shift the statue within 15 days from the date of order issued by the government. However, the state government failed to do so fearing opposition from various dalit groups. Meanwhile, BMRCL is firm on going ahead with the underground work itself as the issue of shifting the statue has already delayed the work by over six months. The underground stretch is a crucial part of the Phase-1 and it has to be completed by the beginning of 2014 so that metro trains could criss-cross at the Majestic interchange station. 34 CITIZEN MATTERS
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Illustration of planned R V station. Pic: bmrc.co.in
Clearances on Phase-2 yet to come Although geotechnical testing for Phase-2 has started, the union government is yet to give clearances on Phase- 2 which includes extensions of the four reaches in Phase-1 and two new lines. The state government, after its own inprinciple approval for Phase-2 had requested New Delhi to give speedy clearances, with an eye on starting work in 2012. Clearance is still pending from the Planning Commission in New Delhi on financing for Phase-2. The commission had received the Detailed Project Report (DPR) from BMRCL and asked for clarifications on financing as the cost involved is steep. According to BMRCL sources, if everything goes well work on Phase-2 can start in five months.
High Speed Rail Link to the Airport BMRCL has submitted its recommendations on the High Speed Rail Link to the state government. It has suggested extending of Gottigere-Nagawara metro line under Phase-2 to the airport in Devanahalli. Initially it may take 44 minutes to reach the airport from the Central Business District, according to BMRCL. However, once the area is fully developed and the number of stations is increased, it would take upto 55 minutes to reach the airport from CBD.
The total investment on Phase-2 is estimated at Rs 26,500 crores and the financing will be based on Delhi Metro Phase-3 pattern. While the union and the state governments will contribute 20% and 30%, BMRCL will raise 47-52 % of the amount through senior term loans from institutions. Participation of any external agency for funding will still be solely decided by the State Government. If the Planning Commission approves, two lines of Phase-2 will be done on PPP basis on the lines of Delhi Airport metro link. Under PPP, the cost for systems would be provided by private partners. If PPP materializes, the cost of Phase-2 will be reduced by Rs.6,000 crores. Akanksha Mehrotra is a freelance journalist.
Opinion GENDER SENSITIVITY
Raising your sons
How does he grow up into someone who respects women. Someone who doesn’t think it’s his right to force his unwanted attention on a woman simply because he happens to be male.
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t's an image stuck in my head from a long time ago. My friend, 19, is helping her mother roll out chapattis in the kitchen. Nothing wrong with that, except that her brother is comfortably slouched on the sofa, yelling for water. She yells back that he should get it himself and the mother adds lovingly but in all seriousness: Bhai ko paani de do, usko aadat nahi hai lene ki (Give a glass of water to your brother, he isn't in the habit of fetching it himself ). The recent discussions in the light of the tragic gang rape case in Delhi reminded me of my friend's brother and his misguided mom. I was reminded because among my friends, acquaintances and bloggers I regularly read, the point of discussion often was how to raise your son to grow up into someone who respects women. Someone who doesn't think it's his right to force his unwanted attention on a woman simply because he happens to be male. A type of male our country is sadly only too familiar with. Like the boy who couldn't fetch his own water, many boys in India are brought up to believe they are superior to girls. Superior enough to be brought water to; superior enough to get the first priority when family finances are being set aside for education - there are examples galore. This is often so deeply rooted that people are not even aware that there is discrimination between the boy and the girl. If it's not said to them overtly, then it is expressed, intentionally or unintentionally
through actions or words. Many grow up emulating fathers who think women come second to men, even if subconsciously. I know someone in whose family the women always eat after the men in the house have eaten. Subconsciously it's something he expected his wife to do as well. You can argue that these are small habits and practices that are probably miles away from the gory mindset that beats and rapes. But these also help in perpetuating a superior attitude that can sometimes go horribly wrong and lead to the worst of crimes against women - be it domestic violence or sexual crimes. "Have the talk with your sons today," said a friend's status update on Facebook at the height of the protests in Delhi and across India. Another lady took her 15 year old son to Jantar Mantar in Delhi for the peaceful protest. She felt being the age that her son was, he had to know and learn for himself what is right and wrong. A writer friend in Bangalore whose son is 23 now, says she has never consciously taught him these things. "That's because as a mother I never discriminated between my son and daughter." What she did was point out, remark and debate on unacceptable behavior when she saw one, even if it was the hero teasing the heroine on TV. "Families should not accept things the way they are. They should talk and debate about it." Messages in the media can have a strong impact on children and
very often movies and ads portray women in a condescending light. Banning television from your son's life may not work but talking to him and asking him to think about what he says, might. The onus, feels the writer, should be on the fathers to talk to their sons about respecting women. "The father can tell the son, look you have a sister at home, how will you feel if she was being teased? It's learning for fathers more than the mothers." Agrees the lady who took her son to the protests in Delhi. "If he sees equality at home, he will learn to respect equality. If he sees a dad who is dismissive of women or prone to passing comments on their looks or actions, that's what he will learn and think of as acceptable behaviour." Many people think women are going overboard with the protests, banning obscene lyrics and panicking about teaching kids the right stuff. Many older people would say that simply doing the right thing and saying the right things would make your children follow suit. But we are living in a very different world than it was even 30 years ago. Bad news outnumbers the good here and there are more chances of being ‘led astray' to use an old fashioned term, than there ever were. So perhaps it's time to talk to our boys. Now.
Reshmi Chakraborty is a features writer and mother of a 6-year-old and a one year old. She lives near Bannerghatta Road.
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Features Here are Aham, Daksh, Krish, and Vedika, under the supervision of Subhashree (parent, not in picture), who are petting a rabbit brought by a zoo staffer. Pic: Deepa Mohan
NATURE FEATURE
Say hello to Nature The best way is to go on a nature trail. But respecting wild animals means keeping a distance!
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t's been my experience that when re-introducing people to Nature, two kinds of instruction are necessary. I call the process a re-introduction, because all of us are part of Nature; it's only that in the rush and stress of urban life, many of us lose touch with the environment that we were created in. We are fortunate to have Bannerghatta forest at our doorstep, with so much scenic beauty! Here's a photo of a pond near the Bannerghatta Zoo: On one hand, I feel strongly that a hands36 CITIZEN MATTERS
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on approach works much better than a dry, "classroom" type of lecture on the wonders that nature has to offer us. I can talk and talk about the various creatures that surround us, and how they live...but when I take a group of children, or adults, on a nature trail, showing them various things, I find that their appreciation of the joys that one can get, increases exponentially. For example, I was with three people at the Bannerghatta Zoo area earlier this week...and saw how both adults and
Features The photos show the spider webs, "tent"-like structures, in the hedge. Pic: Deepa Mohan
Kingfisher Pond in the Bannerghatta Zoo area. Pic: Deepa Mohan
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Features
youngsters responded to seeing and touching. I had, in fact, entered the zoo after a long gap; animals in captivity make me feel quite sad. But since I could not access my usual trails any other way, we went into the Zoo...and though we did not pay too much attention to the captive animals, the variety of plant and bird life in the zoo was just incredible! Birds know no walls or boundaries, and I found that the various beautiful, colourful Flycatchers were to be found as much in abundance within the zoo walls as outside them. I was able to show my friends some plants, too, and tell them interesting facts about them. I was just talking about how the bamboo is the fastest-growing grass in the world, when this beautiful Asian Paradise Flycatcher male made his appearance, delighting all of us! Meanwhile, I saw that a zoo staffer had brought out a white rabbit, and some children were petting the animal. The look of rapture and delight on their faces was delightful to watch! I do feel 38 CITIZEN MATTERS
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that probably having domestic pets to look at, and handle, will be a great learning experience for the children. When I showed the three adults I was with, the egg-cases of the Tent Spiders, and the beauty of the webs, they were also interested in more than just looking for birds. All this "in-the-field" experience is one part of the introduction, but the other part is equally important too. This is the second part, that explains that wild creatures are just that...not domesticated..and therefore, one must maintain a respectful distance from a wild being at all times (except in emergencies) and must never touch or go too near. Approaching too close to a wild animal has two negative effects; it violates the animal's personal space (don't you feel stressed when strangers get too close to you in a lift or a bus?), and lays us open to the retaliation which are some animals' reaction at being so distressed. We have to tell newbies about the ethics of observing wildlife, even if it is urban wildlife that lives amongst us; a
caterpillar or a fledgling bird must not be touched or approached too close. If we take this two-way approach to introducing people to the beauties that lie around them, waiting to be observed and enjoyed, we will make better naturalists ourselves, in being able to pass on the love of nature to our fellow-citizens, too. All the photos in this post were taken on 30th December 2012 at the Bannerghatta Zoo and the nearby area.
Deepa Mohan is a freelance writer and avid naturalist.
Guides and Primers NEW YEAR NOTES
Is weight loss on your New Year’s Resolution - again ? Losing weight is among the most common New Year resolution and probably the most broken. Here's how to stick to your goal...
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t’s that time of the year when people fret over the time wasted not doing something they had decided to and promptly put it on the list for the next year! Was one of your resolutions for this year weight-loss? Is it now at the top of next year’s ‘To-do’ list? Well, you’re not alone! According to surveys conducted every year-losing weight is among the most common New Year resolution across the globe. The two main reasons why it gets conveniently pushed into the next year’s list, year after year are that people are either “too busy” or just plain lazy to make the much needed changes in their life. Others who do venture to make the changes are disappointed at not seeing “quick results” and soon give up sometimes as early as February or March. This year make it a resolution to not break or give up on your resolution list. Here are some tips to help you on a successful weight loss journey in 2013: Make a lifestyle change: your weight at present is a result of the kind of lifestyle you’ve been following till now. Make up your mind to change it. Take charge of your life now so that you can enjoy
Pic: wikimedia commons
the benefits of good health later on in life. Aim at attaining good health: look at it at ‘gaining health’ instead of looking at it as ‘losing weight’. Join a gym: Pay for the whole year in advance. It may cost a bomb, but it will be worth it especially when getting “back in shape” doesn’t seem motivating enough to make that trip to the gym-the money that you already paid up will! If gymming isn’t your ‘cup of green tea’, then look around for an aerobics class, or even dance lessons. The idea is to
get your body to move-so find any physical activity that you enjoy and watch the fat melt. Meet a qualified dietitian: not the types in the fancy weight loss clinics who put you on fad diets to show you quick results
Sweta is a dietitian with over 15 years of experience in the field of nutrition and dietetics with a passion for helping people understand the world of nutrition.
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Do you like what we do? Are you a passionate journalist with the stomach to tell the hard stories, in Bengaluru?
Citizen Matters is hiring. Assistant Editor and journalism positions open. hr@oovani.in www.citizenmatters.in/main/hiring
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