Good morning, Bengaluru!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 32 ℃ | Low: 20 ℃ | Clear sky
🧐 Did you know? The British established their cantonment in Bengaluru in 1809.
🛺 Women-operated electric autos
Bengaluru’s Namma Metro stations at Indiranagar and Yelachenahalli have introduced a fleet of women-operated electric auto-rickshaws to enhance last-mile connectivity.
What’s it about? The initiative, named Low Emission Access to Public Transport (LEAP), is a collaboration between Alstom, WRI India, BMRCL, and Metroride. The pilot phase aims to serve commuters within a 4 km radius of the selected stations. Former MP Rajeev Gowda launched the initiative, emphasising its role in addressing traffic congestion and transforming Yelachenahalli into an IT hub.
- The initiative aims to provide sustainable transport options and bridge last-mile connectivity issues.
- Women drivers are specifically chosen to ensure gender inclusivity and safety for female commuters.
Empowering women: Drivers like Saraswati, a 40-year-old widow, find the program empowering as it offers flexible working hours and a stable income. The success of this pilot project will serve as a blueprint for expanding similar solutions across Bengaluru, with a focus on convenience for the city’s residents.
🐕 Stray dog management
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has outlined a multi-pronged strategy to address stray dog issues in Bengaluru for 2024-25, with a budget of ₹20 crore.
What’s it about? The strategy includes administering combined (5 in 1) and anti-rabies vaccines, aggressive animal birth-control measures, and geotagging stray dogs with microchips. The combined vaccine, a first for the city, will protect against canine distemper, adenovirus type-II, parvovirus, parainfluenza virus, and leptospirosis. BBMP plans to vaccinate 50% of the estimated 2.8 lakh stray dogs in the city.
- The vaccination program is estimated to cost ₹6 crore, with ₹322 spent per dog.
- The animal birth-control surgeries and anti-rabies vaccination programs will continue, with a budget of ₹9.3 crore and ₹55 lakh, respectively.
Tracking the dogs: BBMP will procure 1.8 lakh microchips and 80 microchip readers at a cost of ₹3.8 crore to monitor stray dogs and avoid repeat vaccinations. The data stored in the chips will include vaccination details, age, territorial identity, and other relevant information.
🧪 Nehru STREAM Labs
Bengaluru marked National Science Day with various events, including the announcement of Nehru STREAM Labs in government schools to foster a research-based approach among students.
What’s it about? The Nehru STREAM Labs, announced by Minor Irrigation, Science & Technology Minister NS Boseraju, aim to nurture curiosity and creativity in young learners by providing a conducive environment for discussions, research, and real-world problem-solving.
- The curriculum for Nehru Labs will focus on 21st-century skills, offering practical experience to students.
- Science centres are planned to be established at the district level to further promote scientific learning.
More events: Students across the state took a pledge to cultivate a scientific mindset, with support from the Ministers for Primary Education and Literacy, and Higher Education. The Science Gallery Bengaluru hosted a quiz on scientific concepts, while Bangalore City University and Bangalore University also participated in celebrating the day with various activities.
🧬 PARSEC: A new science experience centre
The Param Science Experience Centre (PARSEC) in Jayanagar, South Bengaluru, offers an experiential gallery that aims to ignite a passion for science and technology across all ages.
The story: Supported by the Param Foundation, PARSEC is not just another “science museum” but also an innovation hub and fun science centre. The gallery is divided into six sections, including kinetic, tactile, digital, cardboard, and illusion galleries, each designed to elucidate fundamental scientific concepts and offer unique experiences using artificial intelligence (AI).
- The entry fee for the gallery is ₹250, with discounts available for schools and underprivileged organisations.
- The gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday, with varying hours, and closed on Mondays.
More centres to be opened: Deputy Director Ganesh Prasad revealed plans to open at least 10 such galleries in Bengaluru over the next three years, with three centres expected soon. The larger Param Innovation Centre is set to open in 2025 on Magadi Road. Plans are also in place to extend the initiative to other cities like Hyderabad, Chennai, and Jaipur.
📊 Today’s Poll
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Do you like group discussions during interviews?
- I like group discussions during interviews.
- I don’t like group discussions during interviews.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Who is your favourite standup comic?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Bengaluru plans to assign two nodal officers to each ward to oversee water supply management.
- To bolster its presence in Bengaluru, Yes Bank has revealed expansion plans and initiatives.
- The BBMP has mandated the registration of water tankers.
- IISc Bengaluru has opened applications for internships for science and engineering students.
- Bengaluru’s culinary landscape has been enhanced with MOGLU’s introduction of borderless cuisine.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I prefer talking: 55.6% 🏆
- I prefer texting: 44.4%
Answers to Yesterday’s Question:
Which comedy movie do you like the most?
Abhilash: “Totapuri”
That’s it for today. Have a great day!