By Ritika Srivatsan Although it is over three months since the government allowed the malls to reopen, they still lie deserted and silent, despite taking adequate precautions and offering concessions, such as a lower parking fee. Disinfection tunnels, clockwise walking paths and cheaper parking Malls and specifically, stores and restaurants inside them, are great places … Read more
By Ritika Srivatsan E-learning has impacted not only students as we have reported earlier but also teachers who are adapting to the learning curve. In March, many thought of online learning as temporary. However, after nearly seven months of remote lessons, e-learning is here to stay, and so are its implications. Teachers feel this year … Read more
By Ritika Srivatsan Online classes are wreaking havoc on the lives of some students, impacting mental health, grades and future options. Many fear this year will significantly affect the rest of their lives and continue to haunt them long after the pandemic is over. The United States was one of the first countries to reopen … Read more
Stations taking great precaution, but negligible footfall By Ritika Srivatsan Namma Metro has now begun operating both Purple (Baiyyappanahalli-Mysore Road) and Green lines after a five-month hiatus. The Nagasandra-Yelachenahalli (Green line) stretch became functional yesterday; joining its counterpart which began working three days ago. Increased security, handsfree thermal screening and smartcards Security staff donning personal … Read more
By Ritika Srivatsan Since there is no vaccine available yet to prevent COVID-19, experts have stressed on the importance of acquiring better immunity. Therefore, alternative and natural immunity-boosting therapies, such as Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Reiki, are becoming increasingly popular. Alternative practitioners advocate that drinking herbal concoctions elevate a person’s immunity. They add that fumigating homes … Read more
By Ritika Srivatsan On September 6, huge crowds gathered for hours on 27th Main, near HSR Layout Police Station to participate in the much-anticipated two-wheeler auction. While the police took the bids for the abandoned vehicles, the teeming onlookers violated social distancing norms, and risked everybody. The police were unable to manage despite being present … Read more
By Ritika Srivatsan A bid to convert the 7.18-acre BBMP Grounds in HSR Layout into a full-fledged multi-purpose stadium, with accent on cricket, has drawn flak from residents. In a meeting held on 27th August 2020, representatives from various Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) in HSR in addition to members of the Federation of HSR Layout … Read more
By Ritika Srivatsan Bengaluru Political Action Committee (B.PAC) a non-partisan group which aims to improve governance in the city, has launched the “Bengaluru Citizen Dashboard”. It is an online portal with information on ward governance, government services, elected representatives, public administration and civic amenities. The aim is to encourage data transparency, accountability in local governance … Read more
By Ritika Srivatsan COVID-19 is proving to be a gamechanger for pet adoption. Ever since the pandemic reared its ugly head, there’s a spike in new pet parents. Vets are not available on video calls as they are completely occupied with physical visits by patients. There are long queues at pet clinics, which is unlike … Read more
By Ritika Srivatsan Everyone is affected by the coronavirus, but the most impacted are the underprivileged, such as house helps. They blame the government and the BBMP for the mess. Some are living hand-to-mouth, while others are thankful to their employers for paying them even when they are unemployable. The other house helps are unhappy … Read more
By Ritika Srivatsan What does it mean to be COVID-19 positive? Ananda Theertha learned it the hard way. The 54-year-old resident of Rajarajeshwari Nagar in north Bengaluru suffered some turbulent times when a medical emergency unrelated to COVID resulted in his father-in-law being hospitalised on two occasions. When his father-in-law was discharged after his second … Read more
By Ritika Srivatsan With over 26,000 active cases and 7000 active containment zones, Bengaluru has become a prominent COVID-19 hotspot. To curb the spike, the city went under lockdown for a second time from 15th July but inevitably, the number of cases will only increase after the ban is lifted. While there are various vaccine … Read more