Spending their lives queuing for water Page 11
Citizen Matters JP Nagar-BTM-Jayanagar
Happy Deepavali to all our readers
Yes, a garbage—free city is possible Page 10
8 Children paint for Arakere Lake 9 Idly, the dog goes to America 12 Are you at risk for diabetes? 12 To water or not to water 13 Voter roll
registration opens in Bangalore 14 “Life is game, hockey is serious” 18 Trick or treat?
Last free circulation print issue. You can always find us online
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Vol-4 Issue-20
03 - 16 Nov 2012
Citizen Matters Vol-4 Issue-20, 03 - 16 Nov 2012 KARENG/2009/28904. Published & printed by Meera K for Oorvani Media Pvt Ltd. Printed at Lavanya Mudrana, 19, 15th cross, Vidyapeeta Circle, BSK I Stage, Bangalore 560060 Place of publication Oorvani Media, #98/1, MMR Plaza 1st Floor, Sarjapur Main Road, Jakkasandra, Koramangala 1st Block, Bangalore 560034. Editor Subramaniam Vincent.
Eyeing a safe Deepavali! Ocular injuries due to firecrackers are common during ‘Deepavali’. Lack of knowledge about safety measures or not following them is a cause. Children under 15 years of age account for 39% of injuries. Absence of parental supervision and failure to maintain safe distance from firecrackers are a major contributing factor. Another cause for injuries is the common practice of igniting fire crackers in the streets, thus exposing passersby to injury. Nearly 40% of fireworks injuries are borne by bystanders. Majority of injuries are associated with flowerpot and bottle rocket crackers. Burns are the most common type of injury. Eyes are the second-most common area to be affected after hands and fingers. Contusions (blood clots), lacerations (cuts) and foreign bodies in the eye are seen frequently. Bottle rockets can fly into people’s faces and cause eye injuries; crackers can damage the eyesight if they explode at a close range. These eye injuries could cause loss of vision, especially in children. Crackers can cause blunt and penetrating injuries to the eye. Crackers may contain carbon, manganese, sulphur and other chemicals which can also damage the eye. Pollution
levels
rise
by
about 6% to 10% during Deepavali, with nitrous oxide and sulphur dioxide levels rise considerably which also cause irritability and watering of eyes. Dos: An adult should always supervise the use of fireworks by children. Remove all inflammable materials from the fireworks area. Follow all safety precautions issued with the fireworks. Use a long agarbathi to ignite fireworks. They burn without an open flame and provide a greater and safer distance between your hands and the fireworks. Keep a fire extinguisher or bucket of water nearby. Light fireworks outdoors only. Wear protective goggles while lighting fireworks to prevent eye injuries. Light only one cracker at a time. Hold lighted sparklers away from the body. Flying fireworks– rockets, missiles, etc.– should always be lighted in open grounds pointing straight up. Discard used fireworks in a bucket of water. Wear close-fitting clothes
of thick material instead of In case of an loose or flowing garments eye injury and always wear footwear to protect your feet. Don’t press or rub the Consult an ophthalmologist eye with the palm or hand, immediately in case of eye lest the injury may get injuries. compounded. Don’ts: Don’t tie a cloth, across Never give fireworks to the eye firmly. This can cause small children. undue pressure on the eye. Never ignite fireworks while holding them. Protect the eye with a cup of Do not put fireworks in any a shield. container to ignite. In case of a chemical Never mix anything with injury, wash the eye well the contents of fireworks or with clean water .It is better make fireworks at home. to avoid washing eyes in case Never ignite aerial of mechanical injuries. fireworks where overhead Don’t neglect any eye obstruction (trees, wires, etc.) may interfere with injury, however trivial it may trajectory into open air space. look. It is always better to Never ignite an aerial rule out vision threatening firework near an opening to problems. a building. If a particle is large or Never re-light a firework stuck in the eye, do not which has not burnt properly. attempt to remove it Wait for 15 to 20 minutes Keep eyes closed and go to and then soak it in a bucket of water. the eye doctor immediately Never throw or point If there is any chemical fireworks at other people. that has entered the eyes, Never carry fireworks in immediately wash the eyes your pocket. Never shoot and eyelids with water for 30 fireworks in metal or glass minutes containers. Consult an eye doctor Doctors can only try immediately and repair the eye but extensive damage if caused is beyond any doctor’s limit of giving vision or preventing Dr Vidyashankar blindness in spite of G Kulkarni contemporary, high Senior Consultant tech and sophisticated Shekar Nethralaya instruments and highly skilled doctors.
Advertiser Feature
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EDITORIAL
So long! See you online Dear Readers, Our best wishes for a safe and happy Deepavali 2012 to you all. This November 3rd 2012 issue is the last FREE issue of Citizen Matters, your community newsmagazine. After this, the freely distributed issues that come to your doorstep every fortnight will stop. The Koramangala-HSR free edition already stopped at the end of September. We are looking into a paid/reader funded model for the print version of Citizen Matters. We will be making a decision by the end of the year. Please look out for our announcements on our website (www. citizenmatters.in), and our e-newsletter (www. citizenmatters.in/enews). Our website audience and engagement has been growing steadily. Citizenmatters. in sees thousands of readers each day in addition to the thousands more we reach through social media (Facebook and Twitter). Our e-newsletter that carries the latest city news weekly to thousands of people around the city is also growing. We are also thrilled to share that our first guide book Living in Bengaluru is now in its first reprint. We are working to expand availability further, throughout the city
Our office phone: 080 4173 7584 or 080 3008 8614 (give us a missed call) Feedback: feedback@citizenmatters.in Submit citizen articles: edit@citizenmatters.in Online advertising: adsales@oorvani.in Order our city guide book: www.livinginbengaluru.com
www.twitter.com/citizenmatters www.facebook.com/citizenmatters over the coming months. We have run a long course from our launch in January 2009. We have met scores of you at our events and run your articles online too. Please keep the articles coming for publication online, citizen journalism and professional journalism are our two eyes on the city. The best way to keep in touch with us, even if you are not a regular website visitor is to sign up for the free e-newsletter. You can sign up by simply registering on our website at www. citizenmatters.in.
Subramaniam Vincent, Meera K
E-news in your Inbox! Keep up with Bengaluru Politics, Housing, Water, Transportation, Property, Schooling, Environment, Arts, Society…
All the stuff that matters. Subscribe to our e-newsletter! www.citizenmatters.in/enews 6 CITIZEN MATTERS 03 - 16 Nov 2012 Vol-4 Issue-20
Bangalore’s own interactive newsmagazine
Citizen Matters edit@citizenmatters.in Associate Editor Padmalatha Ravi Community Editor Meera K Editor Subramaniam Vincent Staff Journalists Abhishek Angad Anisha Nair Navya P K Design & Publishing Shivakeshava M MKTG/CIRCULATION Raghavendra 9845506477 circulation@oorvani.in mktg@oorvani.in ADVT SALES Ramachandran P 080-30088614 (leave missed call) adsales@oorvani.in ©Oorvani Media Pvt Ltd. No part of this publication can be reproduced without the permission of the publisher.
contact@oorvani.in Ph: 080 — 41737584 Longer versions of all articles are available online. Citizen Matters is published by Oorvani Media Pvt Ltd to chronicle current affairs of India’s cities, in depth, with a focus on governance, community and culture. More at: citizenmatters.in/main/ about. Editors note: The advertisement features in this issue are paid-for articles. They are presented by the advertiser to readers for information and promotion. No journalists were involved in preparing them.
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Vol-4 Issue-20 03 - 16 Nov 2012 CITIZEN MATTERS 7
jayanagar jp nagar & BTM
Children paint for Arakere Lake
Magnolia school students taking oath. Pic: Aradhana Janga
O
n October 18th, post-lunch, 200 students at AECS Maaruthi Magnolia Public School at Arakere, Bannerghatta Road, gathered for a rather unusual kind of assembly. The children, studying in classes 5-10, came to hear the story of Bendakaluru, the once prosperous city with flourishing lakes and how over the years, greed and corruption have brought it to a sad state. The story-tellers were Veena Hegde, Meeta Walvalkar and Vandana Raghunath, residents of the nearby Classic Orchards community. Meeta, Vandana and Veena are trustees of the Arakere Neighbourhood Improvement Trust
by their teacher Annapurna Bhat and ably supported by their Principal Dr. Seema Goel, these children took an oath to do their best to help in the rejuvenation of the Arakere Lake. The children got busy for the next hour putting on paper their idea of “Arakere lake”, painting posters. Principal Seema Goel said the students empathised with the Arekere Lake cause. (ANIT). The trust was formed earlier this year with a focus to save and restore the Arakere lake, which incidentally is located right next to the school premises. Spearheaded
To join ANIT’s efforts, please join our facebook page ‘Save Arakere Lake’, or email at savearakerelake@ googlegroups.com or contact Arbind Gupta at 98451 93233. Aradhana Janga is a resident of Bannerghata Road and is a trustee of ANIT.
Rotary E-club organises leadership programme
T
he Rotary E-Club conducted a RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards ) programme on Sunday, the 7th of October 2012 for the students of the SRNG Sampannappa Charities Hostel on OTC road, Bangalore. The sponsor of the programme was Rtn A B Shiva Subramanyam, and past-president of KSCAA (Karnataka State Chartered Accountants Association). Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a training programme for youth ages 14 – 30, organised by Rotarians at the local club or district
level. The RYLA training sessions are conducted with the aim of giving the youth an opportunity to develop leadership skills, increase self-confidence, gain exposure to variety of issues and people, obtain information on career and skills and meet community leaders and mentors. RYLA participants are also exposed to values that Rotarians deem essential for those who hold leadership roles including ethical behaviour, integrity of character and a commitment to community
8 CITIZEN MATTERS 03 - 16 Nov 2012 Vol-4 Issue-20
service. The trainers for the RYLA program were Ram Kumar Seshu, AB Shiva Subramanyam, KP Pradeep, R Mahesh Iyer and Radharamanan Hariharan. The sponsor for the RYLA program was Rtn. A.B.Shiva Subramanyam, resident of JP Nagar and a Chartered Accountant by profession. He is also the managing trustee of SRNGS Hostel. Venkat Holla is a resident of JP Nagar and President, Rotary E-Club of Bangalore (RI District 3190)
Feature It’s a long way from Indira Nagar road to Hawaii. That’s the journey of this traveller who finds a lovely home in the whole wide world.
Idly the dog goes to America S
he has traveled a long way since being found as a little black and white bundle in the middle of 100 Feet Road in Indiranagar. She could have easily been run over as the traffic was typical. She was alone – with no sign of a mum or other pups - just her - very afraid, and a dirty mess. I jumped out of my car and put her into a paper bag. She was little - less than 1kg. I called Amit to tell him that I was “bringing someone home for lunch” and he knew immediately that I was talking about a dog. He asked me, “Just one?” - afraid that I had befriended an entire litter. Veterinarian, Dr T L P Naik told us the pup was about five weeks old and that her eyes had just opened. He gave her the appropriate vaccinations and suggested ways to care for her as she settled into the rhythm of our life. We named this little female puppy Idly. It’s been a long journey since 100 Feet Road. Today Idly is in America, she went there in late June this year. She is there until New Year. Her first flight was from Bangalore to San Francisco via Frankfurt. She landed safely after being in cargo for over 28 hours. Upon landing into California she immediately visited friends in Half Moon Bay. She then visited the vineyards in Napa Valley, and the beaches in Carmel. People approach us about Idly all the time, commenting on what a well behaved dog she is, the curl in her tail, her long lean body, and her “border collie-like markings - and asking us about her breed. We proudly say she is an Indian Hound. Idly’s second flight was on July 6th from San Francisco to Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii where she spent the summer and resides currently. Since arriving in America, Idly’s been chilling out, curious and the ultimate easy-going vacationer. While she misses her walks with Rajang and her home cooked meals by Esther, she has been having fun exploring the
beaches and hiking trails of the North Shore of Kauai. Traveling to America took planning and organization. Idly had a number of health checks, and given that the state of Hawaii is rabies-free, she had to pass a Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization (FAVN) test. We have had many breed dogs and we agree that none have been so adaptable, easy going and clever as Idly. She is adorable, playful, healthy and sporty. Given that Idly spent the first weeks of her life on the streets, she was initially a bit more nervous than other dogs, but after lots of affection in India and her first visit to America, she is learning how to trust and adapt. Skills essential for all of us. We greatly appreciate one of Mahatma Gandhi’s famous quotes: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”. How animals are treated, is up to each one of us and we are happy that there are many organisations in Bangalore like CUPA, and people like Dr Naik, who are committed to positively address the street dog menace. Adopting Idly was a simple act that has made us smile and laugh each and every day. She reminds us how to play, be grateful, adapt and trust. Tracy Ann Curtis is an Independent Talent and Organizational Development Consultant who has lived in Bangalore, India since 2004. Vol-4 Issue-20 03 - 16 Nov 2012 CITIZEN MATTERS 9
exclusive
Garbage Management: Who should do what? Despite all the talk about the city’s massive garbage crisis, some things are still not clear. But it’s no rocket science! The following table is based on the conversations between various residents associations, waste management campaigners, NGOs and BBMP.
What you need to do Segregate waste into wet, dry recyclable and reject (biowaste, hazardous waste etc) Give reject waste to BBMP
Single homes, small business Dry recyclables: Give to pourakarmika OPTION 1 Compost the wet waste in your own small composting bin (available in the market for less than Rs.1000) OPTION 2 Give both wet waste and dry waste (segregated) to BBMP
What the city (BBMP) needs to do Enforce and incentivise segregation of waste. Fine those who do not segregate. Develop a standard colour coding for the whole city. For e.g. Green is wet waste, Blue is dry recylables, and Red is reject waste. Collect and send only reject waste to landfill/incinerators (Note: incinerators have emissions and pollution issues) Help setup dry waste recycling centres run by entrepreneurs like those who run newspaper recycling shops. Send only reject waste to landfill. Send wet waste to processing centres or plants to generate fuel such as biogas, convert to electricity and sell to grid. Such plants can be run by entrepreneurs.
Townships, large apartments, gated communities, corporates OPTION 1: Organic waste converter (see previous category) OPTION 2: Setup biogas-electricity plant in common area for wet waste processing Feed electricity back into powering community common facilities such as lighting, water treatment, sewage treatment etc. OPTION 3: If no space for organic waste converter or biogas plant Pay BBMP to collect the wet waste In the case of large corporate or college campuses with kitchens or canteens there is the added option of converting wet waste to biogas and feeding it back to the central kitchens for cooking.
When there is no space to process wet waste at source, BBMP collects it for a charge, and transports to nearby public processing centres or biogas plants
10 CITIZEN MATTERS 03 - 16 Nov 2012 Vol-4 Issue-20
What BBMP needs to do BBMP’s role is as critical as citizens’ role is helping Bangalore get out the mess. BBMP must enforce segregation of waste strictly at all homes, businesses and campuses in the city. Garbage collection, transport, and processing in Bangalore is a massive scam. This must end. The total real tonnage of wet and dry waste both together and separately has not even been independently estimated. Contractors are billing BBMP (and therefore the taxpayers) for unexpended costs. Scientists and experts are ready to help to fix the estimation problem. Very large scale waste processing plants running into hundreds of crores do not work for the taxpayer. In BBMP’s hands they become scams and run aground, agreements with operators are regularly violated, land is wasted, and nothing materialises. BBMP must encourage and incentivise waste management entrepreneurs. Incentivise rag pickers, raddiwalas, dry waste recyclers and wet waste composters as well as bulk generators implementing management at source . BBMP should focus on ward level or locality level waste-toenergy plants and get citizenBBMP committees to monitor and oversee maintenance with quarterly reporting published on websites. BBMP should work with BESCOM with offload electricity generated from Waste To Energy plants with a commercial formula.
cm special
Spending their lives queuing for water
Women in low income neighbourhoods, don’t have alternatives when it comes to water. In global Bengaluru, with its swanky malls and high paying jobs, city authorities have forced women and girls to spend their days waiting to collect water for households.
O
n October 18, hundreds of residents of Gopalpura slum near Magadi road, staged a protest demanding water supply. They were without water for over a month. Majority of the protesters were women. The police lathi charged them and left several injured (Oct 20, The Hindu).
File Pic: Rakesh Ayilliath. This photograph is one of the entries to Bengaluru. Infinite 2010 contest
While the authorities passed the buck on whether a lathi charge was called for, the larger question on urban poor’s access to clean drinking water remains unanswered. The Gopalpura incident also highlights the fact that collecting water is largely woman’s job. Where else would one see over 200 women sitting dharna on a regular day?
The water situation has practically defined her family’s lifestyle. She says “I have raised three daughters here. They spent most of their mornings queuing up for the water. Sometimes they skip school / work because we are waiting for water tanker.”
According Karnataka Slum Development Board there are 597 slums in the urban area. Majority of the slums do not have access to water, let alone clean drinking water.
Girls skip school to collect tanker water Women across all the slums share the same story. The water comes in once a week or fortnight. Even if it comes on a daily basis, it comes for a very small duration and they have to store it up in drums and make it last for days. Most houses in these areas do not have individual water connections, they have to go to the public taps shared with hundreds of other residents. The queues are long and there is no guarantee there will be water for everyone. And invariably they end up in physical fights. Reshma Banu, lives with her three children and her mother in the
45-year-old Santha S from Garvebhavi palya shares Shahina’s sentiments. Santha does not live in a slum but in a low income neighbourhood, however basic amenities are still an issue. She works as a domestic worker in the neighbouring apartment complex and brings home a few bottles of ‘drinking water’ from her workplace, everyday, because she has access only to hard borewell water.
Gopalpura slum. She says “I have to often go to the tap and check if water is coming. I collect 1012 pots a day. Four pots a day is needed for personal use. There is queue and fights for getting water.” Reshma makes agarbathis at home, she earns about Rs 50 per day for making around 1000 sticks. Shahina Taj, 35, from the same neighbourhood explains why it is harder on women. “We women have more problems because we have to take care of kids with the available water. We have to use toilets inside homes, can’t go out like men,” she says.
Most of the houses in this area do not have BWSSB connection. Some do have but they are not metered. The tenants like Santha end up paying Rs 200 per month for water irrespective of how much water they get. They end up paying additional money for tankers when there is no BWSSB water supply.
Water board robbing citizens of dignity CIVIC, a well known city-based NGO conducted a survey in 23 slums on the water situation in November 2011 . According to it out of the 23 slums, only two slums were getting water everyday and the other 13 slum areas were getting mud mixed drinking water. On days when water is not supplied, 22 areas have no tanker facilities. About 100
>>Continued on page 15>>
Vol-4 Issue-20 03 - 16 Nov 2012 CITIZEN MATTERS 11
for your Info
Are you at risk for diabetes? D iabetes Mellitus, a metabolic disorder in which the body is unable to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood, has assumed epidemic proportions in India. There are almost 33 million diabetics in our country. Each one of us is at significant risk for developing diabetes. The good news is, if you are aware of the risks and take necessary measures, you can prevent diabetes. The bad news is, if you don’t, you are at risk not only of diabetes, but also of having a heart attack, a stroke, kidney failure or even amputation.
Bangalore has a unique distinction of high incidence of diabetes, with some studies reporting as much as 12% of the population being affected. Thus every 9th Bangalorean may have diabetes. It is therefore imperative to understand the risk factors for diabetes. Some of
them cannot be modified, but many are modifiable lowering your risk of developing full blown diabetes.
Women suffering of PCOS are at increased risk of developing diabetes.
Hypertension: High blood pressure (above 120/80 Col (Retd.) Dr Mukul Saxena reading) increases your risk. In addition, if you have diabetes as well as hypertension, your risk Risk Factors of heart disease is also significantly Genetic Factors: A family history increased. of diabetes in parents or siblings, places you at risk. Cannot be Obesity: Obesity or overweight is a risk factor that can be modified. modified. Additionally, it predisposes you to Ethnicity: South Asians, especially development of insulin antibodies. Indians are at a high risk for diabetes. Reduction in weight can help you Cannot be modified. prevent diabetes, or if you are a Age: With advancing age, your risk diabetic help gain better control. for diabetes increases significantly. Inactivity: Inactivity or sedentary Gestational diabetes: Developing life significantly increases your risk. diabetes during pregnancy, Thus a moderate degree of exercises, increases risk for diabetes. or even walking helps in reducing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: your risk of getting diabetes. health matters
To water or not to water W atering appears to be a simple activity, it is in fact one of the most misinterpreted, often with disastrous consequences for the plant. First, we don’t water plants, we actually water the soil.
other hand, results in the loss of nutrients and minerals from the soil.
When to water Water early in the morning, not late in the evening.
Plant diseases are known to spread Yes, you read right – we water the in wet, dark conditions and when we water in the soil. The plants late evening, Chlorophyll conversations take in their water tends to vinita suryanarayanan required amount stay on the leaves, of water from the making the plant soil so watering the soil around the root zone (away from the stem) is more susceptible to catch mildew most beneficial to the soil micro- (a fungal disease). Also, plants need water mainly during daylight hours organisms and therefore the plant. so watering early morning would Equally critical is knowing that ensure that they are able to carry plants need soil that is moist not out their activity. wet. Moist soil enables the water to break down necessary components How much? in the soil into a small enough size The simplest test of whether the soil to be absorbed through the plant’s needs more water: If you poke your root system. Over-watering, on the 12 CITIZEN MATTERS 03 - 16 Nov 2012 Vol-4 Issue-20
Pic: Vinita
finger about an inch into the soil, it should come out cool and damp, not wet. If it is dry and powdery/ crumbly, it is time to water! Erratic watering stresses the plants. Allowing the soil to dry out completely between watering is not a good idea and works only for specific plants.
Ways of watering For an urban home garden, there are several ways to water - you can use a simple bucket and mug, rose can or drip irrigation mechanism.
For you info
Voter roll registration opens in Bangalore
Bangaloreans, who are not part of the voter rolls can register at the BBMP offices or online, by November 29th, 2012.
T
he Election Commision has announced a special summary revision of photo electoral rolls. This will help enrol first time voters, voters whose names are not in the rolls, voters who have shifted residences and already enrolled voters who need to correct their details. All citizens who will be 18 years or above, as on January 1st 2013, are eligible. Draft Electoral Rolls for the Batch II Assembly Constituencies including 28 constituencies within BBMP limits, have been published on 30th October 2012. http://164.100.80.163/DraftRoll2013/ dist_List_46.aspx Hard copy of the rolls are available at BBMP ward offices, Offices of Deputy Commissioners of the districts, Assistant Commissioner of the revenue subdivisions, Tahsildars and at the polling stations. Applications for inclusion and corrections can be filed from 30th October upto 29th November. The EC has planned special campaigns to reach out to citizens on Sundays viz. 11th, 18th and 25th November. The revised rolls are to be published by January 16th, 2013.
Check your name on the roll Search in the draft rolls: Go here http://164.100.80.163/ DraftRoll2013/dist_List_46.aspx Select your constituency to see list of pdfs rolls by polling booth. If you don’t know your polling booth details, it is a laborious way to find it here!
Use the online tool Go here to access the tool: http://164.100.80.163/ceokarnataka/ Home.aspx You can search on the basis of your name, EPIC card number or by the acknowledgement number given after you register. As on 31st Oct, voter lists of some parts are not yet published. Both the above options work for some. However PG Bhat, an activist who has been closely analysing the voter roll problems, says, the pdf electoral rolls published on 30th October are incomplete and not in sync with electoral database of CEO, which are used by the search tools. There are situations where the part number and roll numbers for the same voter will be different in each case.
and transposition of name from previous constituency to present constituency. Enclose copy of address proof and age proof Form 7 - For seeking deletion of name from existing rolls Form 8 - For correction of any particulars in the rolls Form 8A - transposition of name from one part of assembly constituency to another part in the same constituency. Online registration The EC has a online tool accessible at: http://www.voterreg.kar.nic.in. We found most people who tried to register on the site failed. We request readers who could register successfully to share their experiences.
Use SMS service Check your name on the voter rolls using SMS: SMS your EPIC ID Card Number to 9243355223. The response from TD-CEOKAR gives the assembly constituency, Part Number, Serial Number, Name, Relation name, sex and Age.
Registration for new voters Manual registration The EC has given the list of Voter Facilitation centres here, where application forms will be accepted along with address/id proofs: http://164.100.80.163/ceokarnataka/ PDFS/VFC.pdf Form 6 - For inclusion of names as first-time voter, inclusion of name missing from the electoral roll
Interactive map for polling booth info The Election Commission site has an interesting interactive map at http://164.100.80.165/ceogis You can mark your residential location on the map - by navigating, specifying coordinates or by searching by name. The tool gives details of Parliamentary and Assembly constituency, BBMP Ward, as well as contact info for ARO and Voter facilitation Centre.
nEWSDESK
Vol-4 Issue-20 03 - 16 Nov 2012 CITIZEN MATTERS 13
Feature
“Life is game, hockey is serious” Manoj Mahala and Deepthi Indukuri run a website that provides the latest news for hockey fans. The founders, ardent hockey fans, have helped fill a void in sports journalism that pays little attention to our national sport.
A
s millions of fans cheered for the Indian hockey team during the 2010 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup tournament, one particular fan in namma Bengaluru decided to show his support for the Indian team in a different way. Manoj Mahala, 27, felt that the team deserved more than the scant press coverage it was receiving during the tournament. To show his support, he started TheFansofHockey.com, a blog to provide news about the Indian hockey team. “The lack of consistent media coverage was something a lot of fans noticed and were discussing on Orkut (the once-popular social media website). I felt something had to be done and thus started the blog,” says Mahala, a postdoctoral research student at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.
Small beginnings Mahala, whose interests lie in hockey, photography, and web designing, believes that it made an ideal combination to start the blog. He works on it when not doing his research in product design for vehicle safety. Mahala was joined by Deepthi Indukuri, 27, another research student at IISc who shares his passion for sports photography and is a hockey fan too. The blog has now evolved into a full fledged website and regularly gets 500-600 hits every day. “The number of visitors shoots up considerably during the hockey season, averaging 5,000 pageviews a day. During the World Series Hockey last year, the website even crashed because of the surge,” says Mahala. The website’s Facebook page has over 3,500 fans, and its Twitter page has over 700 followers. In a span of two years, the initiative
The fans of hockey team with Dhanraj Pillay. Pic courtesy: Mahala
has come a long way. Mahala began reaching out to hockey players online and writing to various hockey associations and clubs across the country to get updates on the latest events news in the sport. “I try and meet the officials, players, and coaches when they visit Bangalore for matches. I am now considered as part of the media,” says Mahala. Currently, the news on the website is sourced mainly from press releases that he receives from clubs at the national level to those from other countries such as Argentina, Pakistan, England, and Australia.
hockey PHOTOGRAPHY Mahala and Deepthi’s interest in photography has also led to them to focus on hockey photography. “It is a small but an important reward for the sportspersons to know that their photographs are being clicked.
14 CITIZEN MATTERS 03 - 16 Nov 2012 Vol-4 Issue-20
There are also schedules of and results of tournaments across the world. A small number of articles are contributed by hockey aficionados across the country.
Interest in hockey Despite a keen interest in athletics since his childhood, Mahala’s tryst with hockey did not begin until he moved to Bangalore for his Ph.D in 2007. “At IISc, the saying goes ‘Life is game, hockey is serious’ and that’s how much I am passionate about the sport,” says Mahala. Mahala plans to finish his research in the next year or two, after which he wants to focus on the website full-time. “I want to start generating original content similar to what a website like espncricinfo.com does; however, I do realise that the road ahead is challenging,” signs off Mahala. Yogaraj Mudalgi works in the educational training industry and takes an interest in all things happening in Bangalore.
classifieds & Listings
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Spending their lives queuing for water
HEALTH & Nutrition
public water taps are not working. Residents were falling ill, due to substandard quality of water supplied. Jyothi A, project co-ordinator for water domain in CIVIC, says that it is the responsibility of the water board to provide water, but this has not been executed. “BWSSB Act itself says that the Board should mandatorily supply tanker water in areas that does not get Cauvery or borewell water through public taps.” But the ground reality is something else and the residents’ plight stands testimony to this. Often the authorities claim that the residents Women collecting water from a public tap at are unwilling pay up Ejipura. Pic: Navya PK. for water usage. But the residents are already paying high prices for the little water they get. Santha says “we would gladly pay for proper water connection. But it hasn’t happened.” Jyothi says that BWSSB has been doing a project to identify illegal connections in slums, so as to legalise them, but that not much has been done. Meanwhile, Saroja, a mother of two living in Ambedkar slum on Ejipura main road continues to collect water from a pipe near her house. She knows it is mixed with sewage water. She uses it for washing clothes and dishes. She has to wait at another pipe for cleaner water to use it for drinking and cooking purposes.
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Vol-4 Issue-20 03 - 16 Nov 2012 CITIZEN MATTERS 15
see & do FILM
Rang De Box OFfice Documentary: Happiness Behind Tragedy On use of child labour in the fireworks industry. A must-watch before purchasing fire-crackers this Diwali. Especially with the bad solid waste management practices in Bangalore adding to the woes of citizens. 4.30 pm Sat, 3 Nov, Ashirwad Hall, #30, St Marks Road. Ph: 9739142852
WORKSHOPS
Stories and legends of Diwali, fun facts about Diwali across India, special Diwali crafts that you can proudly display during the festival and be surprised at how your child prepares a sweet for you. Sat 10 Nov Saplings Preschool, JP Nagar 6th Phase, Ph: 9916888007
ITeS Employees? Have we ever felt helpless at our workplace? Have we ever felt the threat of job loss? Have we ever felt that our voice is not being heard? 2.30 pm, Nov 3, Saturday, YWCA Hall, Koramangala 6th Block, Next to Koramangala Police Station
Spotlight Children’s theatre workshop Children act, direct, write, sing and perform on the big stage. Final registrations on 4th Nov at Sadashiv Nagar. Ph: 9738350098
Rangashankara: It’s Shakespeare 3 Sat 4 Sun.Rogorts Genebot (As You Like To nominate, you simply It) Georgian (with Eng need to complete a subtitles) (also at 11 am on nomination form. NomiSun) Marjanishvili Theatre nations can be made Georgia online through www. 6 Tue 7 Wed.Cymbeline nammabengaluruJuba Arabic (with Eng awards.org subtitles) South Sudan Theatre Company You can also email the 8 Thu 9 Fri.The Tempest forms to nba2012@namBangla (with Eng subtitles). mabengaluruawards. Dhaka Theater Production org. The Nomination 36 Bangladesh Forms can be picked up and dropped at Café 10 Sat 11 Sun.Wanawake Coffee Day, CUPPA and C Wa Heri Wa Winsa (The Krishnaiah Chetty & Sons Merry Wives of Windsor) outlets. Kiswahili (with Eng subtitles). The Theatre Company Kenya Marathi (also at 3.30 pm). 13 Tue 14 Wed.Falling Into Mahanagarpalika Kamgar Place English. Jugaad Co. Union Pune Bengaluru 25 Sun.BeeChi Bullets 15 Thu 16 Fri.An Evening Kannada (also at 3.30 pm). with Anton Chekhov Rangayana Mysore. English 27 Tue 28 Wed.Sagara 17 Sat 18 Sun.Unselfed Kanyaka – The Lady English (also at 3.30 pm on from the Sea, Brisbane Sun). Powerhouse & Oz Fest 20 Tue to 23 Fri.Saltbush – 29 Thu to Dec 2 Sun. Children’s Cheering Carpet Nothing Like Lear (also at (for 4 year olds and above). 3.30 pm on Sat and Sun). Davide Venturini (Italy) Rajat Kapoor and Jason Cross (Australia) LIST your event free! Submit your 24 Sat. events online www.citizenmatters.in Satyashodak or mail events@citizenmatters.in
Clay Art, Diya Making And Pottery Workshop Get artsy, eco friendly and crafty this Diwali. Sun 4 Nov, Jaaga, Double Road. Ph: 9611118939
THE BOOKWALLAH TRAVELLING WRITERS FESTIVAL 6 writers, a nomadic library, 2000kms by train. Chandrahas Choudhary, Annie Zaidi and Sudeep Diya Painting Workshop Sen along with Australian Paint a 1000s diyas. writers Michelle De Krester, Team DALD this Diwali Benjamin Law and Kirsty is planning to reach 500 Murray travel across South underprivileged children India all through November, and distribute sweets and presenting public events painted diyas. along with a lot of 4 Nov, 10am to 4pm, Prakriti conversations and making Preschool, 973, 12th ‘A’ Main, connections as they move Indiranagar 2nd Stage. RSVP along. 9845211797 Friday, 9th November at 6 pm, RSVP Phone No. ‘Sparkles’ Diwali activity 98865 99675. Bangalore workshop International Centre, TERI Complex, 4th Main, 2nd Cross, Domlur II Stage Dealers in Musical Instruments Session on ‘Standing and accessories Orders” by Jt. Labour Commissioner, T.K JP Nagar Jinkalappa Call What is Standing 9880599956 Orders? How is it www.musicgear.in important for IT/
Music Gear
16 CITIZEN MATTERS 03 - 16 Nov 2012 Vol-4 Issue-20
THEATRE
4th Edition of Namma Bengaluru Awards Citizens are encouraged to send in nominations (No self nominations) Categories: Govt Official/ Org, Citizen: Indiv/Youth, Elected Rep, Citizens’ Groups – RWA/ CBO/ NGO, Social Entrepreneur, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Media – Indiv/org.
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last word
Trick or treat?
L
ast year he called it Holiween. I didn’t make any attempts to correct him and he didn’t remember it beyond that point either. Why bother when it isn’t a festival that belongs to us?
they go asking for candies.”
Some people I know wonder what the fuss is all about. “It was fun for the children, when we lived there in the US where it is an old custom but I see no point in This year, he is close to Halloween parties here as seven and the Halloween the concept is a borrowed confessionS of a second time mom monster has struck us hard. one and not known to many,” Reshmi Chakraborty We now know the correct says Sumita, mother of a 10 pronunciation and the fact and 8 year old who says her that it’s an American festival kids don’t miss Halloween. that has “something to do with ghosts”. We also know “We have enough festivals of our own to be excited somewhat hazily about pumpkins and trick or treat. about,” she retorts. The problem is we live in an apartment complex that Ankita, who runs art, craft and storytelling classes in isn’t as Halloween friendly as the son and some of his Whitefield would also prefer to celebrate Indian festivals friends, would want it to be, despite a sizeable number than focus on Halloween. “The idea is sweet but I would of return to India crowd. Surprising rather teach our kids about the desi really (though highly relieved if you festivals first and celebrate those than ask me), because Bangalore seems to latch on to Halloween just because it have embraced Halloween as much as seems to be the latest trend.” Holi and every other apartment block is Curious whether it is a Bangalore only hosting a ‘Halloween party.’ trend, I called some friends in other Saloni, who runs activity classes for kids cities. My friend in Kolkata was quite in Arakere, says she has had requests amused and said this was the post from some mothers to do Halloween Durga Puja recovery phase so any other related activities. Saloni looks at it as a thought doesn’t occur to her. My friend fun activity and thinks that it’s a good in Gurgaon, near Delhi did laugh and way to get the fear of ghosts and spirits say yes, her kids have succumbed to out of children’s minds by turning it into Halloween mania. Given the high R2I a festive thing. Must say I like that angle population in Gurgaon, perhaps it’s a of thought. Pic: wikimedia commons hangover thing? Kriti, mother to a 6 year old and resident For most moms it seems to be a ‘if-my-kid-is-happy-I’llof an apartment complex in Puttenahalli, thinks it’s fun go-along’ kind of thing. One creative mom I know even too. “We’ve had Halloween parties in our apartment for baked a batch of cobweb cookies for her kids! the last two years and I think of it as a kids only festival, at least here. It’s good to see the kids all dressed up Then of course there are some fence sitters like me. I’ll in funny costumes and excited though we do have to keep it Holiween as long as I can. Then who knows, I’ll explain the concept to many who are unaware when probably just go with the flow. So what’s your take?
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