Citizen Matters Koramangala - HSR Layout
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Local news like no one else does
risk of Bio-medical waste
Unlicensed clinics going scot free Page 11
5 Citizen updates 6 Sarjapur Road needs railway underpass 7 Meet Ammu Joseph
17 Nature Feature: Owls & Shikras are not bad omens! 18 Confessions of a second-time mom
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Citizen Matters hosts Photography exhibition in BTM-JP Nagar parks This weekend - 16th & 17th. See page 17
www.citizenmatters.in Vol-4 Issue-10
16 - 30 June 2012
Citizen Matters Vol-4 Issue-10, 16 - 30 June 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.
Thyroid disease can affect your eye The treatment depends on the severity and stage of the disease: tablets, injections, or surgery for reconstruction are all used.
Abnormal opening of right eye in thyroid eye disease.
Same patient after surgery- eye is better protected
Thyroid disorders are increasingly detected among the population. Thyroid affects the entire body, as well as the eye. Unfortunately, most patients either do not know that the eye can be affected by thyroid abnormalities; or they are under the impression that they have to accept the discomfort and changed appearance, without any remedy. Let us understand more about how thyroid disease affects the eye. Who gets Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), also called Graves’ disease, Graves’ ophthalmopathy? Most commonly, patients with hyperthyroid (over-active thyroid) suffer from thyroid eye disease. But the disease is also seen in hypothyroid patients (underactive thyroid). A small percentage of the patients have TED, without ANY other sign of thyroid disease in the body. It is estimated that more than half the patients with thyroid disease develop TED at some time. How does thyroid eye disease affect the eye?
Young woman with altered appearance due to thyroid
Advertiser Feature
Same patient, back to normal condition after reconstruction
In mild cases, the eye can feel gritty, reddish, itchy. In moderate cases, there can be occasional double vision, a ‘bulging’ appearance of the eye, difficulty in closing the eye. The patient can feel pain around the eye, and ‘pressure’ on the eye. In severe cases, the vision may decrease, the eye may have severe redness, pain and watering, and develop an ulcer. In the late, inactive stage of the disease, the eye can have a changed appearance, and a ‘staring, bulging’ look.
How will I know there is a threat to my vision? Watch for the following signs1. T he eye does not close well, there is redness, pain, watering, and/or a white spot on the black part of the eye – affecting the cornea. 2. V ision is not clear. The earliest way to detect it is to look at a bright red object every day, one eye at a time. If the red looks muddy and dull instead of bright red, please contact your doctor immediately. 3. W atch for double vision, i.e., one object appearing like two. What is the treatment for thyroid eye disease? Your physician will take care of the thyroid disease in the body. However, a well-controlled systemic thyroid level does not always keep the eye safe, and extra care is needed. Thyroid eye disease is best treated by an ophthalmologist who specializes in the problem. Simple measures can keep you more comfortable: mild pain-killers, cool compresses, tear substitutes, and elevation of the headend of the bed while sleeping, are beneficial. Do stop smoking if you have the habit. Go for a checkup every 3 to 6 months.
Dr Roshmi Gupta, Orbit and Oculoplastic Surgeon
633, 100 feet Ring Road JP Nagar 3rd Phase, Bengaluru - 560078 Tel: 08026593210 fax: 08041209197 drrajashekaryl@shekarnethralaya.com Ph:9980562020 info@shekarnethralaya.com www.shekarnethralaya.com
Koramangala & HSR LaYout
For a greener HSR Layout Last weekend, residents and volunteers, planted over 100 saplings in HSR Layout.
O
n June 9th, HSR Layout 19th Main was bustling with a group of people who got together for a green drive. This was not the first such drive in Bangalore. Balbir Bora, an environmentalist and an engineer along with Kapil Sharma and several others formed an organisation called ‘Say Trees’ in 2009 and have been organizing such tree planting drives around Bangalore. What was interesting about this event in HSR Layout was the huge number of young volunteers that turned up. The children helped us in digging, securing the tree guards and watering the saplings. We gathered at 7:30 am and ensured
Pic courtesy: Say Trees
all the 100 saplings were planted. Another environmental friendly group, with their ‘Go Green’ T-shirts cycled to the venue and joined the event.
MLA Satish Reddy also participated in the event. Next time you are in HSR Layout, take a look at this lane, I am sure a smile will cross on your face.
BBMP, not only provided the saplings for the drive, but also helped in planting the saplings.
Sheeba Rajam is a volunteer with ‘Say Trees’ and a resident of HSR Layout.
MLA Satish Reddy comes down heavily on civic agencies
Citizen Reports
M
LA Satish Reddy (Bommanhalli Constituency) • The MLA also presided over a meeting of all office bearers directed BDA and BBMP to identify a garbage of Residents Welfare Associations (RWA) and the segregation area for HSR Layout immediately. Federation of HSR Layout on June 4, Monday, to • Asphalting of 27th Main Road till discuss infrastructural and other issues. Somasundarapalya, in Concerned Engineers and staff of BBMP Perhaps for the first time, coordination with BWSSB. and BDA were also present at the we were happy to see the meeting and took on questions from the Shifting of Parangipalya elected representatives, all the • bus stand RWAs, closely monitored by the MLA. as 24th Main Road is concerned engineers and staff a bottleneck and an accident The meeting lasted over two hours and of BBMP, BDA and officials prone site. was conducted with utmost seriousness. from Police Department, All issues were discussed threadbare We seek intervention of the present under one roof in such HSR Layout Corporator Latha and explicit directions were given by the MLA to the BBMP, BDA and police a review meeting alongside Narasimhamurthy on the issues officials with clear cut timelines. The representatives of RWAs. discussed and monitor the MLA was miffed with the civic agencies progress by BBMP and other on abnormal delays on issues like: civic agencies on directions given by the MLA on all the issues within the timelines. • Encroachment of footpaths and road space by vendors, hawkers and mobile food carts in the Brig R S Murthy is the Vice Chairman Federation of HSR entire HSR Layout. Layout RWAs. Got feedback on our articles? Give us a missed call at 080-300 88 615
Vol-4 Issue-10 16 - 30 June 2012 CITIZEN MATTERS 5
in & AROUND
Sarjapur Road needs railway underpass E
veryday, commuters get stuck on either side of the railway gate on Sarjapur Road at Mullur, thanks to around 30 trains that pass through. Commuters taking this route curse their predicament as they have no other option.
During peak hours, the vehicle pile up extends almost a kilometre on either side of the gate. Office commuters, school vans, BMTC buses - everyone has to queue up. Most often, it is the school buses that get stuck at peak hour. “Everyday, we get late by 30 or 40 minutes. Even after the gate is opened, it takes half an hour to get out of this traffic block. We don’t have any other option but to take the road,” said Sreekanth N, India International School’s bus driver. The railway gatekeeper Ponnuswami
Vehicles caught in a traffic jam at Sarjapur road rail cross. Pic: Sankar C G
the Train Vehicle Unit (TVU) should be more than one lakh. TVU is obtained by multiplying the number of vehicles passing through the cross with the number of trains. The railways say the TVU is more than one lakh at the Sarjapur level cross. So a flyover or underpass is a must there. M watches the pile up every day. “Around thirty trains pass by this cross every day, which includes 12 passenger trains and the rest are goods services. Constructing an underpass or flyover can solve the traffic problem,” says the gatekeeper. The criterion for sanctioning a flyover or underpass at a railway crossing is
Hari Babu, Senior Divisional Engineer, Southern Railway, says they have already got a proposal from the state government for a flyover construction. He says “We are going to construct the flyover with the State government contributing 50 percent of the cost. We will start the works as soon as possible.”
Sankar C G
Kasa Rasa Centre in Koramangala A
new waste management centre ‘Kasa Rasa’ was inaugurated at Koramangala 5th block on 9th June 2012. This is located in the parking lot next to Hotel Empire, under the high tension lines. KSPCB chairman A S Sadashivaiah, civic activists like Meenakshi Bharath, Sandhya Narayan, N S Ramakanth and local corporator Kokila Radhakrishnan also participated. The centre is an initiative of Saahas, an NGO working for effective waste management, supported by BBMP and KSPCB. The Centre has an organic waste converter (OWC) for composting food waste. There is also a shredder and curing tanks. Saahas will manage the day to day activities of the plant. Waste will be collected from apartments and offices in Koramangala blocks I, III, VI and VII and Madiwala Market. The waste will be collected by BBMP pourakarmikas and the staff of Kasa Rasa. For residences or offices serviced directly by the staff, there is a nominal fee to cover transportation and labour costs. Residents can also bring in waste
Wilma Rodrigues of Saahas explaining the process to Ramalinga Reddy, MLA and Kokila Radhakrishnan, corporator. Pic: Sankar C G
directly to the centre. One such Kasa Rasa center has already been set up in Ejipura. The Koramangala centre cost Rs 40 lakhs rupees and was supported by organisations like CHF International, Center for Social Action, Caterpillar
6 CITIZEN MATTERS 16 - 30 June 2012 Vol-4 Issue-10
Foundation and Christ University and firms including organisations such as Robert Bosch Engineering Solutions and Tetrapak India. BBMP provided the land for the centre.
Sankar C G
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local matters
‘People and the government should be on the same side’
A
mmu Joseph, a 58 year old You have travelled a lot of cities. How independent journalist, do you find Bangalore in terms of town watches media closely and this has planning and development? always been on top of her list. She has also authored many books on There has been a major investment media and gender issues in media in the infrastructure in Bangalore, whether it’s the correct reporting. She talks kind of investment or about reporting on Nimma not, is secondary for women and child neighbour them. Somehow, we rights, media and its have totally failed in role and much more urbanisation. about the city. Where do you think citizen activism Now, everybody here is talking about the car (vehicular) movement. stands? Everybody is concerned about I think we have a very active how to make cars move faster with citizenship. I wish we had been the help of flyovers, signal-free more active a couple of decades corridors, and underpasses. Nobody ago. People have now realised that is even talking about simple things it’s frightening the way the city has like playgrounds for children. It’s developed. But better late than become more of a city of bridges never. than the city of gardens now. I think the city authorities, in matters of development, have been extremely obstructive and often downright hostile. People should not have to spend so much time fighting the government. They should all be on the same side.
You have been active on women’s rights issues. Where do you think does Bangalore stand? I think Bangalore has had a pretty good tradition of being good with women. Even in the late seventies, girls here were always (travelling
Pic: Anisha Nair
alone) and there was some kind of freedom of mobility. But women’s safety, whether inside the homes or outside - I don’t think, it has improved at all. I am horrified at the reports in newspapers everyday at what people do, including what women do. This I think has a lot to do with the sudden influx of people from various backgrounds.
Data Guides
HSR- Koramangala bus routes Route No. BIAS-7
Origin
Anisha Nair
anisha@citizenmatters.in
www.citizenmatters .in
Via Places
First bus
Last bus
HSR Layout Madiwala, Forum/Checkpost, Shanthinagara Bus Stand, 06:10 am (BDA Complex) Richmond Circle,Chancery Pavillion, Bowring Institute, Bangalore Club, Indian Express, Vasantanagara, RM Guttahalli,
11:30 pm
BIAS-7 A HSR Layout Koramangala, BDA Complex, Koramangala Sony World , Dell 08:40 am (BDA Complex) Software Complex, Domlur, M.G.Road, GPO, Windsor Manor, RM.Guttahalli
10:00 pm
BIAS-8
Electronic City
Bommanahalli, Central Silk Board, Agara,Marathahalli Ring 06:00 am Road, K.R.Puram Railway Station, Kalyana Nagara
11.55 pm
411L
Dairy Circle
Hosur Road Junction, 80 ft Road Junction, Manipal/NAL, HAL 06:40 am Main gate, Marathahalli Bridge, Kundalahalli fate, ACes Layout Cross, Patundur agrahara, Hope farm,Kadugodi Bus Station
08:30 pm
500A
Banashankari
BTM Layout, Agara, KR Puram Rly.Stn, Kalyana Nagara
06:00 am
08:30 pm
500C
Banashankari
Jayanagar 5th block, BTM Layout, Agara, Kundanahalli, ITPL
06:15 am
08:30 pm
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Vol-4 Issue-10 16 - 30 June 2012 CITIZEN MATTERS 7
craft Corner
scrapbooking
This article is part of Itsy Bitsy crafts popularisation initiative and is accompanied by the advertisement on the following page. Rashmi Closepet is a founder of Itsy Bitsy.
8 CITIZEN MATTERS 16 - 30 June 2012 Vol-4 Issue-10
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Vol-4 Issue-10 16 - 30 June 2012 CITIZEN MATTERS 9
exclusive
With no power to protect lakes, LDA limps
Construction debris being dumped on Agara Lake bed. Pic: Sankar C G
I
t has been four years since Bangalore’s Lake Development Authority (LDA), put forward a bill demanding more power and funds to protect the city’s lakes. The wait seems endless for the cabinet’s approval of the proposed LDA bill. If passed, the bill will provide both resources and enforcement power to the LDA. Strangely the ‘authority’ was formed under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, with practically no powers to act against violators. “LDA is working like a society. Lack of resources not allowing us for a fullfledged functioning. So we decided to propose a LDA bill in 2008,” says Rama Acharya, Public Information Officer, LDA. LDA was formed in 2002 by Karnataka’s environment ministry. It has been funded by the State government. According to LDA, Bangalore originally had 2785 lakes. People used lake water for domestic and agricultural activities. But due to industrialisation and urbanisation, 90% of the lakes have vanished. But without teeth and resources to back it up, LDA is unable to do much. Currently there are 207 lakes surviving. Of these, BBMP is
responsible for 129. BDA is in charge of 49 lakes, five are under Karnataka Forest Department, and 18 under Minor Irrigation Department. And LDA itself controls only six lakes: Agara Lake (bounding HSR layout), Hebbal Lake, Nagavara Lake (near Hebbal), Venkayyana Kere (New Airport Road), Sheelavanthana Lake (Whitefield ) and Byrasandra Lake (Jayanagar 3rd block).
What LDA seeks through the bill 1. Power to take action against lake encroachers. 2. Power to take action against lake polluters. 3. Enough resources for task forces, and sufficient engineers. 4. Bring more lakes under its ambit. 5. Sufficient funds for lake development. Non-existent enforcement currently Taking care of even these six lakes has not been possible for the LDA. When Citizen Matters asked about the dumping of construction wastes and pollution in Agara Lake, Acharya said, “We cannot take action against
10 CITIZEN MATTERS 16 - 30 June 2012 Vol-4 Issue-10
those who are violating the lake. But we have informed about this to the Revenue Department and KSPCB.” LDA officials say their notices have been in vain. Eighteen cases are pending for the past two years with Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) with regard to the lake pollution. Despite its lack of powers and funds, LDA has been able to do some work. Last year, the authority did a lake water analysis on 86 lakes in Bangalore. 39 lakes were highly polluted and 47 moderately polluted. But again, no action could be taken.
The long wait continues “Once LDA bill is passed, we will have enough resources and power. Then we can take action against those who are polluting or encroaching the lake. Moreover we will have enough resources to work for the preservation of lakes,” said Dr Ravi Ralph, CEO of LDA, echoing the line taken by his PRO, Acharya. For a bill to become a law, it has to pass through different stages. But the LDA bill has not even passed the initial stages, since its drafting, says Ravi.
Sankar C G
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cm special
Unlicensed day clinics going scot free
O
n 8th May, BBMP issued a notice meant as a final warning to unlicensed health units to obtain trade licenses. But this was not the first time; BBMP had issued the notice thrice before - first on 5th December 2010, second in February 2011 and the third in June 2011. Despite these notices, 937 health units out of a 2648 hospitals surveyed by BBMP were unregistered as of March 2012. The notice makes it mandatory for health units to have an up-to-date receipt of tax payment, an authorisation letter from KSPCB (Karnataka State Pollution Control Board), an agreement with authorised bio-medical waste collectors - Semb Ramky Environment Management Pvt Ltd or Maridi Eco Industries Private Limited. Along with this, they should pay one year’s fee as mentioned in Suvarna Arogya Paravanige-2007 to obtain trade license.
What is biomedical waste? Most visits to the hospital - for vaccinations, minor surgeries, major surgeries - all leave behind a trail of biomedical waste. If this is not scientifically disposed, it can cause serious trouble. For example, if you get a vaccination, the syringe, needle and even the cotton used becomes biomedical waste. Biomedical waste if mixed with municipal waste can be hazardous. It can cause diseases like cholera, plague, tuberculosis, hepatitis (especially HBV), AIDS (HIV), diphtheria etc, and pose grave public health risk.
Biomedical waste should be segregated
and Handling) and disposed of with authorised waste Rules, 1998, the collectors. Pic: Abhishek Angad organisation/ institution generating waste is responsible for ensuring that such waste is handled without any adverse effect to human health and the environment. So either the health units generating bio-medical waste should have an incineration plant to disinfect or burn it, or tie up with any private agencies for the same. Most hospitals found the latter viable. In 2001, two private players Semb Ramky Environment Management Pvt Ltd and Maridi Eco Industries Private Limited got the tender to handle waste in Karnataka. These two got the contract out of the 14 that had applied. Maridi has its incineration plant in Kanakapura and Ramky has its plant in Tumkur Road. The two organisations collect biomedical waste in four colorcoded bags, segregated by the concerned health unit. KSPCB remains the monitoring authority of the private players.
To obtain a trade license, the health units have to Maridi caters to South and East Bengaluru along with declare whether they generate bio-medical waste. Mandya, Kolar, Chickballapur and Ramanagara and handles roughly 1600 health units in Bangalore. M A This will ensure that the health units Srinath, Vice President Operations, generating bio-medical waste have an arrangement with Ramky or Health units include hospitals, Maridi, claims that almost all bedded hospitals are covered in Bangalore Maridi, for safe disposal of such waste. super-speciality hospitals, either by his company or Ramky, but Dr T Devaki Umesh, BBMP’s health clinics, nursing homes, dental also mentions that day clinics remain officer (West), says that it is mostly clinics, health clinics like a nuisance for them. the day clinics that are not licensed. spas, Unani and Ayurvedic “The day clinics are present in every However, on Sunday, 10th June, dispensaries, Ayush centre, nook and corner of Bangalore BBMP held a meeting with doctors of yoga centres, blood banks, and many are not registered. They day clinics to sort this issue. She adds, generate lot of waste. Also, the “70 people applied for the license and laboratories, veterinary hospitals and shelter homes. timings of the day clinics are irregular, we will see some more soon.” which makes it difficult for us to Who is supposed to collect biomedical collect the waste regularly.”
waste?
According to the Bio-medical Waste (Management Got feedback on our articles? Give us a missed call at 080-300 88 615
Abhishek Angad
abhishekangad@citizenmatters.in Vol-4 Issue-10 16 - 30 June 2012 CITIZEN MATTERS 11
for your Info
FED UP WITH DIET FADS?
H
istorically, human civilisation’s growth is punctuated with attention to weight and to diet. Diet fads like low fat diet, low carbohydrate diet, Duke diet, Couch Potato diet, HCG Diet, GM diet, banana breakfast diet, no breakfast diet, fruit diet, salad diet, tomato diet, etc. have evolved over time. In this maze, we have lost sight of what is known as balanced diet.
A balanced diet is a balanced proportion of different components are - carbohydrates, proteins and fats. In addition body requires certain vitamins, nutrients, and minerals to perform for different body functions. Body requires certain specific compounds like anti-oxidants, vitamins, fibres, and certain supplements.
Peer pressure, celebrity endorsement and Size-zero concept contributes to Diet Fads. Some also have the desire to lose a lot of weight, that too very fast!
Early signs of adverse effects of Diet Fads include: dizziness, confusion, fainting, dehydration, severe constipation or diarrhoea, muscle cramps, mood changes, constant hunger and lethargy
health matters
Col (Retd.) Dr Mukul Saxena Some tips to lose weight in balanced way Eat less but more frequently Avoid second helping Eat more of fibre, vegetables, salads, curd Avoid ice creams, cakes, trans fats, refined carbohydrates. colas, fruit juices, junk food, sweets and processed food. Drink more water Regular exercises this does not mean going hungry. Skipping breakfast, mindless snacking, a sedentary lifestyle and irregular sleeping habits can damage the body.
To reduce weight, the options are to reduce total calorie intake, reduce specific components of food and burn up more calories. However
The key to lose weight without diet fads lies in balanced diet and balanced lifestyle.
What a pest (Part III) I
n the early days of my garden, I have been harassed a fair deal by the Mealybug! Of course I now realise that it was probably because I had not ensured that the soil was healthy enough. Mealybugs tend to gather on the affected plant in large numbers, forming white cottony masses. They start at the newer growth tips and spread to ‘hard to reach’ areas like the underside of leaves, inside fruit bunches, crevices of the bark and stem. They cause damage by sucking the juice from the host plant and secreting a waxy susbtance that sometimes even causes other fungal growth like black sooty mold. Like most pests, the best control for mealy bugs is defensive. Healthy, vigorous plants are less susceptible to infestation than weak and stressed plants. Mealy bugs can
Pic: wikimedia.commons
be dislodged with a steady stream of water. Repeat the treatment as necessary. This works well for light infestations. Neem oil acts as a fungicide and plants can absorb it so that they develop a greater resistance.
12 CITIZEN MATTERS 16 - 30 June 2012 Vol-4 Issue-10
If an infestation cannot be controlled after two or three weekly applications of insecticide, consider destroying the plant before the mealybugs spread to other plants in your home.
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Bangalore’s own interactive newsmagazine
Citizen Matters Associate Editor Padmalatha Ravi Community Editor Meera K Editor Subramaniam Vincent Staff Journalists Abhishek Angad Anisha Nair Navya P K Design & Publishing Shivakeshava M Sub-editor (New media) Nagashree Gururaj edit@citizenmatters.in 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. www.citizenmatters.in, feedback@ citizenmatters.in facebook.com/citizenmatters twitter.com/citizenmatters
Classifieds Education Yoga centre Bring this cutting and avail 10% discount in our course Surya Jyothi Yoga Vedanta Centre, Surya Jyothi Yoga Vedanta Sadhana Gurukulam, No 46,5th Block,4th Cross, Behind Sukhasagar Restaurant 100ft road, Koramangala, B’lore-560095, Ph: 9902539230 /080-25505972 www.suryajyothi.com http://suryajyothiyoga.org/
editorial
Life beyond tinted glasses I t has been two weeks since the June 5th deadline to remove sun films from cars. The urgency to evade fine has died down. The garages don’t have long queues anymore. They did make a lot of money though. On the last day, one of the garages in Bommanahalli made `15,000 rupees, just by removing films. However, the owner of the garage was not pleased. ‘It is a lot of work for `300 per car, madam’ he said. Has there been a lull in crimes, especially against women, post the removal of sun films? After all, that was the reason cited. Probably too early to say. But here are things that have changed because of the sun film removal. Air Conditioning in the car is turned up higher because monsoon is still evading the city and it is pretty hot during the day. One couple decided to wait till summer was over saying ‘at least this year we will cut down on the air conditioning costs.’ Laptops, wallets, blazers, laundry, veggies etc., cannot be
left in the parked car. The first four for the fear of theft and the veggies might not hold up without the sun film cutting down some of the heat. Women, for whose protection the Supreme Court had made the ruling, feel this is not a great idea. Women are now openly stared at while sitting inside cars. Earlier, there was a screen of protection. However flimsy or illegal. I heard a young mother complain, that traveling with her infant has become harder since she cannot breastfeed while stuck in long traffic jams. The father added, ‘yes, nappy changes too have become difficult.’ Also if there are no tinted glasses there isn’t a way for one check one’s appearance while on the move. No more mirrors parked by the roadside. There is an entire lifestyle that has been built around tinted glasses that has to be rethought now. Who would’ve guessed?
pickup points for Citizen matters
HSR LAYOUT
MARKET
HSR CLUB
Below Nagarjuna green ride Apt.
M K AHMED BAZAR
AM ENTERPRISES
17TH Cross 17TH Cross
SWAGAT DEPT. STORE 9th Main
RUSH PHARMA 9th Main 7th Sector
ANDHRA SPICE 14th Main, 17th Cross
SHIVA SAGAR DARSHINI 19th Main
SRI SHAKTI RESTAURANT
BDA complex 14th Main
EASY BUY SUPER
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Opp Nagarjuna green ride Apt.
GANESH MEDICALS 24th Main
TANDOOR POINT 24th Main
SUPRIYA DEPT STORE FOOD CHARIOT
16th Main, 22nd Cross Ashwini Layout
KORAMANGALA
LITTLE ITALY Near Forum
NAMDHARIS 80 Feet Road
UDUPI UPAHAR 7th Main, 1st Block
A M Medicals
1st Block Koramangala
Somya Stationery’s
1st Block Koramangala
The French Loaf
80ft road, 4th Block, Koramangala
Madurai idly shop
Koramangala 6th Block
New shanti sagar
7th Block Koramangala
Krishna Upahar
80ft road Koramangala
Vol-4 Issue-10 16 - 30 June 2012 CITIZEN MATTERS 13
Check outs
Coffee, kaapi, it’s all here With so many coffee joints sprouting up around town, we Bangaloreans are pretty much spoilt for choice. Along with coffee that you can pick up and drink onthe-go, meals that are made to go with that fresh cuppa are the new deal.
S
everal upmarket coffee joints offer great combos so that your coffee becomes a full blown meal. Pairing it with freshly baked pizzas and sandwiches is a current favourite. Of course, muffins and cookies remain constant companions of the brew. But what kind of coffee do you choose? Caramel laced, chocolate laden, or topped up with whipped cream and sprinkles? Bangalore is lucky enough to be home to some rather unique combinations. Lemon infused ( completely serious here), or blended with pastry? We have it. Frappés and cappuccinos abound for those who like a little Italian in their cup. You can find delectable cheese cakes too, heavy on Irish creme, Oreo cookies or even berries to best suit the coffee you choose.
All the pictures from wikemedia.commons
Cold coffees are increasingly scoring well with customers, and it doesn’t look like hot coffees are making comebacks just yet. But for those who still hold on to the heat, double espressos and filter kaapis still d r a w admirers in the city. After a plate of hot idlis or some other Southern specialty, filter coffee just can’t be beat! And it’s not just the coffee shop chains that have scored with customers, but little cafés too. Although they may
be hard to spot, tucked in between supermarkets and jewellery stores, you can find spaces that are big on flavour and variety, in terms of both food and drink. However, coffee is not all that the city has to offer - flavoured teas are all the rage too. Strawberry, lemon,
cross, 3rd Block, Koramangala Barista Lavazza Espresso Bar: SJR Group, SJR Primus, 1 Koramangala Industrial Area
For tea enthusiasts Infinitea, 2, Cunningham 41148810
Shah Sultan Complex, Road. Ph: 41148428,
My Tea House, #293, 100ft Ring Road,4th Phase, 7th Block,, Banashankari 3rd Stage. Ph: 09481462593
Gaana Srinivas is a student of Communications at Mt.Carmel College and is a summer intern at Citizen Matters.
mint, even chocolate flavoured teas have found a place in the stomachs and hearts of the city’s hangoutloving crowd. Several places around town have dedicated themselves solely to the ‘other’ beverage. I hope you’re hungry now. If you are, here are a few places worth checking out.
KORAMANGALA LIST Kalmane Koffee: Forum Mall, Hosur Main Road, Koramangala Udupi Upahar: Koramangala 7th Block, Opposite HDFC Bank The French Loaf: 80 Feet Road, 4th Block Ext, Koramangala Bread Works: # 692/1, 16th main, 6th A
14 CITIZEN MATTERS 16 - 30 June 2012 Vol-4 Issue-10
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Koramangala HSR Layout
The mightier gift W
hen was the last time you bought a pen? How much did it cost? Was it made of plastic or coated with gold? Yes some pens are made of gold and can cost up to a couple of lakhs. Brand name, as in any other retail product is a key factor with the pricing of pens too. From Parker, Pierre Cardin, Cross, Sheaffer, Baoer, Waterman, Mont Blanc, Caran d’Ache, Q, the list is long. You have a plethora of designs, trends and styles to choose from.
It also depends on the material from which pens are made from. The regular pens generally have plastic bodies. But there are pens made from in carbon fibre, stainless steel, Chinese lacquer, Aluminium and rhodium, with coats of silver and gold! Gosh! And so much for writing! They are either ballpoint pens or ink pens. These brands don’t have gel pens. So, gone are the days when pen was considered just a set of a plastic body and a refill, or even plain old fountain pen, just enough to get your work done. Pens have evolved into a status symbol, a trend, a style statement. These pens are mostly used for the corporate
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gifting purposes. Some companies buy them in bulk during seminars and conferences. The brands depends on their budget. There is also a trend of customised pens. You can get names engraved over these pens. Corporates use this the most. They can get the name of their companies engraved over these pens. Well, here’s a secret little tip for you. Pens make for a wonderful gift when you are not sure what to give and still want to make it special, regardless of the gender. So go to the nearest store and pick your favourite pen, and write it all out in style. Don’t forget to flaunt one over your shirt pocket as well! You can pick your choice of pens from: William Penn: # 145, 1st Main, 5th Block, Koramangala. Ph: 25537803, 41104428, 40535555 Sapna Book house: # 6, 80 Feet Road, 7th Block, Koramangala. Ph: 40839999 Pen Fold: # 174/A, 19th Main, Sector 4, HSR Layout. Ph: 8553011056, 25724864
Anisha Nair
anisha@citizenmatters.in
Vol-4 Issue-10 16 - 30 June 2012 CITIZEN MATTERS 15
see & do Dance A Kuchipudi dance feature PARAMPARA Smt. Vyjayanthi Kashi along with her daughter and disciple Ms. Prateeksha Kashi is presenting a Kuchipudi Dance Duet billed as “PARAMPARA” as part of Nrityantara. Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Wed 20 Jun, 08:05pm to 08:50pm.
Music Nadasurabhi concert Vidwan Dr. Sreevalsan Menon -Vocal, Vidushi Charulatha Ramanujam-Violin, Vidwan K.U.Jayachandra Rao-Mridangam, Vidwan S.N.NarayanamurthyGhatam 17 Jun 4.15 pm, The Indian Heritage Academy Hall - 6th Block, Koramangala
Workshop
Discover Bengaluru through art Art House is organizing various art workshops on sketching and water colour. Venkatappa Art Gallery campus, Sheshagiri Hall, Tippu Summer palace, Lalbagh, CKP, Market, Bus Station, Railway station etc., across Bengaluru City, Sun 24 Jun, 10:30am SAM Workshop (Find out What’s Missing in Education) A motivational Youth workshop for 15-35 yrs age group. Shikshak Sadan, KG Road, Opp. Kaveri Bhavan Majestic, Sun 17 Jun, 04:30 pm To 06:30 pm
Exhibition
The Flâneur in the City: A Comic Art Exhibition - Works by Appupen, EP Unny and Gokul Gopalakrishnan. Galleryske 2, Berlie Street, Langford Town, Till Sat 30 Jun
Exhibition of Photographs by late M Krishnan Alliance Francaise, P.B 108, Thimmaiah Road, Vasanth Nagar, Sat 30 Jun, 04:00pm
Children
Rhythm N Rhyme Training for kids (below two years) in basic motor skills, rhymes etc.. Just Books, 5th Block, Koramangala, Fri 15 Jun, 05:00 pm to Fri 17 Aug . 05:45pm
Talk
Meet writers Zack O’Yeah and Nilanjan P. Choudhury 16th June, 5 to 6:30 PM. At Easy Library, 972 H, 1st A Main, S.T.Bed Layout, 4th Block, Koramangala.
Theatre
Rangashankara Plays 19 Tue Rumors (E) 100 mins 20 Wed to 22 Fri Gumma Banda Gumma (K), 90 mins 23 Sat Kaveri of Kiththale Villa (E), 100 mins 24 Sun Aadaddella Olithe…? (K), 90
16 CITIZEN MATTERS 16 - 30 June 2012 Vol-4 Issue-10
Auto expo and show This weekend in Koramangala, June 16th17th 2012 Neighbourhood expo and Auto show. Welcome to the auto exhibition from IBN-Neighourhood Expo Bangalore. Leading four-wheeler brands, car accessories and car loan providers will be present. Entry is free. Venue: Koramangala Reserve Police Ground, opposite St Francis Junior College, on Sarjapur Road, in Koramangala. Contact: +91-8892099817, 9740402514, 9620769942. mins (also at 3.30 pm) 26 Tue Karibanta (K), 90 mins 27 Wed, 28 Thu Jugaari Cross (K), 115 mins 29 Fri to 1 Jul Sun Galileo (E), 125 mins Rangashankara, 8th Cross, Nt To Post Off, JP Nagar, Phase II, Ph: 2649 3982
LIST your event free! Submit your events online www.citizenmatters.in or mail events@citizenmatters.in
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Features
A treat for photography enthusiasts JP Nagar and BTM parks will host 40+ framed cityscapes over the weekend. Why go to a gallery to see the best of photography? ‘Art 4 Public’ is coming to your doorstep!
C
itizen Matters, in association with Red Frames is hosting a photography exhibition, on June 16th and 17th, at two venues in South Bangalore. The selected images are from ‘Frames of my City’ contest held late last year, that witnessed a spectacular response.
June 16, 5:30pm to 7:30 pm at Kuvempu Nagar Park, BTM 2nd Stage June 17, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Dhanavantri Park, JP Nagar 2nd Phase The travelling exhibition gathers the collective talents and perspectives of amateur as well as professional photographers across India. Moving from online to print, to a collector book to exhibitions across India, ‘Frames of my City’ has made a tangible, valuable impact in the field of photography.
Selvaprakash, the Bangalore based photographer posing next to his award winning picture (file pic). You can see this and more at the show!
A Vidyashankar, a member of RWA BTM layout feels this is a great initiative, “With more such events, residents will have something nice to look forward to”, he says. Venkatesan Perumal, a well known photographer and founder of Red Frames, the photography site, says, “Photographers across the country can showcase their talent, it is a welcome opportunity to take it back to the people, who are the real audience”.
Newsdesk
Meet the rat control brigade W
underground e have a lot of birds Nature Feature and open sewers around us in the Deepa Mohan of our city, and city. Some eat seeds, some since many of fruits and some eat live them are rabid, they spread diseases, prey. We’ve all seen sparrows pecking too. at the grain in the market areas, or seen parakeets pecking at ripe fruit... When the population of but some birds are predators. rodents increases, Nature’s way of maintaining the Here’s the Barn Owl. It often balance is to get birds like the roosts and nests in groups near Barn Owls to the spot! These apartment buildings, or homes nocturnal birds, prey upon with gardens. For some the rodents, and actually reason, it is traditionally considered a bird of ill omen. help us stem the rising rodent population. So, they should be Some people don’t like thought of as good omens, not them because they often bring dead rats and bad! mice, and make a very Several Barn Owls hunt around disturbing “chirring” noise my building and I love watching their all night. But have we considered why noiseless flight as they swoop down the dead rats and mice are there? upon their prey! Our urban lifestyle generates a lot Another bird that controls rodents is of trash, much of it food waste. And the Shikra. Shikras are small and have rodents - rats, mice, bandicoots, the typical hooked beaks and sharp thrive on this trash. They live in the claws that birds of prey have. They
are active at dawn or dusk, but can sometimes be seen in daylight, also, sitting quietly on the branch of a tree, or any other roost where they feel comfortable. So...when going for a walk, especially at dawn or dusk... do look around and see if you can spot these members of the Rat Control Brigade! Yes, both of them are fairly common in Bangalore.
Left: Barn Own. Right: Shikra. Pic: DM
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Vol-4 Issue-10 16 - 30 June 2012 CITIZEN MATTERS 17
last word
So what do I do all day?
What was it that the mothers did, staying in this mysterious place called home where there really wasn’t much to do except manage a kid or two, keep them clean and well fed and keep the house looking like it wasn’t rummaged by a tornado.
I
t takes you so long to write a 700 word story! Said the horrified editor friend of mine. I counted sheep in my head (helps me stay calm. Another good alternative is the in-yourhead-grocery list) and waited for the one question that I hate
them the question: So what is it that you do the whole day?
confessionS of a second time mom
Reshmi Chakraborty
“Umm...you really want to know?” Asked the friend with a four month old. The edge in her voice should have warned me off but I ploughed on. “At 7 I clean the baby’s diaper. 7.15 is feeding time. 7.30 there’s a diaper change again. 8 there’s some feeding again. By 9 I grab whatever food I can see around the house as I am so hungry I could eat an entire buffet and possibly even the baby. Happy now?” I hang up, longtime friendship at stake.
Pic: Reshmi Chakraborty
The other one is better behaved but has no time to talk. “Sorry dear. My daughter’s friends are coming over and I need to make some nutritious homemade pizzas or else nobody will send their children over to our fast food consuming house again.” hearing ever since I gave up working full time to be a stay at home mother: So what do you do all day? Really, what was it that I did the entire day? And what was it that the other mothers did, staying in this mysterious place called home where there really wasn’t much to do except manage a kid or two, keep them clean and well fed and keep the house
looking like it wasn’t rummaged by a tornado. It didn’t require excel sheets or meetings so how tough or time consuming could it be? If general opinion is to be believed, there isn’t much that is done all day except for the above mentioned cleaning/feeding bits, along with copious TV watching and (gasp) even visits to the salon! With eight luxurious hours
18 CITIZEN MATTERS 16 - 30 June 2012 Vol-4 Issue-10
stretching before her, what’s a woman to do! Since I fall in the above category of moms with nothing much to do but still do not get the time to finish a 700 word article in 7 days, I decided to do some stock taking with other mummy pals of mine. Clearly I was a failure in time management and had it all wrong. I was sure they had it all figured out. So I decided to ask them
The third keeps it short and to the point. “Cannot talk. Filing the husband’s tax returns. After that need to take the car for servicing. Busy day. In fact this is how all my days are. I am the secretary cum driver cum housekeeper cum babysitter.” The fourth cuts my call. I had made the mistake of texting her my question. Amen.
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