Good morning, Bengaluru!
⛅ Today’s weather: High: 34 ℃ | Low: 22 ℃ | Partly cloudy sky.
🧐 Did you know? Texas Instruments was the first multinational corporation to set up a base in Bengaluru in 1985.
🏍️ Rising road fatalities among men
Bengaluru witnesses an alarming increase in road fatalities, particularly among men aged 21-40, attributed to speeding and lack of protective gear.
What’s it about? Data from the Bengaluru Traffic Department for 2021-2023 reveals a significant rise in road deaths, with 913 fatalities recorded in 2023, up 17-18% from 2022. Men, especially those in the student and early working age groups, constituted the majority of the victims. The age group 21-30 saw the highest number of deaths, with a notable increase in fatalities among men aged 31-40 and boys aged 11-20.
- Two-wheeler users, including delivery personnel, are identified as one of the most vulnerable road-user groups.
- The increase in personal vehicle ownership, particularly two-wheelers, is linked to the rise in fatalities.
What can be done? Authorities emphasize the need for a change in road user behaviour, including adherence to speed limits and wearing protective gear like helmets. Experts highlight that fatalities are expected to rise with the increase in vehicle numbers and road user population. Road design, proximity to emergency care, and public road safety education are crucial in addressing this issue.
🏠 Transgender community’s struggle for housing
Transgender activists Chandini and Uma discuss ongoing challenges in housing and livelihood faced by their community in Bengaluru, despite improvements over the years.
What’s it about? At a discussion held at the Alternative Law Forum, Chandini and Uma shed light on the discrimination faced by transgender individuals, particularly in securing housing.
- Chandini shared her journey since moving to Bengaluru in 2002, noting a shift from reliance on sex work and begging to education and activism.
- Uma highlighted the importance of a 5% reservation for transgender individuals and the confusion surrounding sexual and gender identities among policymakers.
More needs to be done: The dialogue underscored the progress made in recent years but also the persistent challenges in achieving full inclusion for the transgender community in Bengaluru. Activists stress the need for clearer understanding and support from society and lawmakers to address these issues effectively.
🎒 Tender for students’ shoes and bags
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has initiated the procurement process for shoes and bags for students of its educational institutions to ensure timely distribution for the 2024-25 academic year.
What’s it about? After facing delays in providing shoes to students at the beginning of the last academic year, BBMP has floated a tender early this year to avoid similar issues. The tender, which opened on March 11, will close on March 25, with work orders expected to be issued in early June.
- The civic body plans to procure 20,619 pairs of brown canvas shoes, 15,523 pairs of black shoes, and 15,523 bags for students across 93 nursery schools, 16 primary schools, 33 high schools, and four PU colleges.
- Last year, BBMP attempted to procure shoes through private agencies but received no bids, leading to procurement from the state-run Leather Industries Development Corporation (Lidkar).
Time stipulated: Officials are confident of finding bidders this time and aim to distribute shoes and bags on time. The successful bidder will have 30 days to supply the shoes and bags, ensuring timely distribution to the students.
👮 Police to launch ‘Volunteer Beat’
Bengaluru City Police Commissioner announces the introduction of a ‘Volunteer Beat’ program to tackle robbery and burglary in the city, starting in Vijayanagar and Chandra Layout.
What’s it about? The Bengaluru City Police are planning to initiate a ‘Volunteer Beat’ system, which will involve public support to prevent thefts and house-breakings. This new beat system, expected to start in Vijayanagar and Chandra Layout police limits, requires public cooperation for its successful implementation. Police Commissioner B Dayananda emphasized the importance of community involvement in solving cases of robbery and burglary, particularly at night.
- The initiative is in line with previous community policing efforts like ‘Neighbourhood Police’ and ‘Police Volunteers.’
- The Commissioner also advised jewellers to promptly contact the police at ‘112’ if they notice any suspicious activities around their shops.
Public meeting: The announcement was made during the ‘Jana Samparka Sabhe’ meeting, where the public also raised concerns about traffic congestion in areas like Peenya Industrial Area and Goraguntepalya. The ‘Volunteer Beat’ program aims to strengthen the collaboration between the police and the community to enhance safety and security in Bengaluru.
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🗞️ In other news…
- Rainwater harvesting has the potential to fulfil more than 70% of Bengaluru’s water requirements.
- Tiger Yaki is set to introduce Korean-Japanese fusion cuisine to Bengaluru.
- The foot overbridge (FoB) connecting Krishnarajapuram railway station and K.R. Pura metro station is experiencing a three-month delay.
- The Karnataka government has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the centre over drought relief funds.
- In recent quarters, Bengaluru’s real estate market has seen increased activity.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!