Citizen Matters
Citizen Matters News

From panic attacks to obsessive compulsive disorders, how COVID-19 has taken a toll on mental health
In the second wave, many people have been struggling to cope with the loss of loved ones, not being able to perform their final rites, the helplessness of not finding oxygen or beds, etc

India needs national registry on 'Black Fungus' to streamline response, says health expert Anant Bhan
A national registry will enable policymakers to assess the real burden of the problem and very quickly try to address it, said the Bhopal-based researcher

Kashmiris struggle with shortage of essential items in Srinagar after closure of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway
Srinagar is totally dependent on supplies of essentials such as petroleum, LPG, kerosene, vegetables, poultry and mutton, as well as other grocery items, from outside via this road

With election season around the corner, long overdue civil work, citizen grievances being addressed in Chennai
Several infrastructure development projects which had been put on the back burner over the past five years will now be taken up on a war footing and completed in a very short period of time

Delhi's out-of school poor children, dependent on mid-day meals, stare at empty plates and uncertain future
Delhi has the highest percentage of severely stunted children (11.7 percent), according to the Urban Hunger and Malnutrition (HUNGaMA) study whose results were released in February 2018

COVID-19 crisis: Mumbai team develops algorithm that tests more patients with fewer trials, awaits approval
Tapestry Pooling, the initiative developed by the team from Mumbai, is today a finalist in the Open Innovation Track of the $500,000 XPRIZE, a worldwide COVID-19 testing competition

Crushed by COVID-19, India's tourism sector can rebuild by renewing focus on sustainable practices
It is time for the stakeholders to formulate a plan that will keep principles of sustainable tourism upfront. The pandemic has forced consumers to be more cautious and focus on sustainability and local communities

Varanasi’s toxic air quality is emblematic of wider malaise affecting entire Indo-Gangetic plain
In 2017, CPCB called Varanasi the most polluted city in the country, while in 2018, WHO listed it as the third most polluted city in the world

Kerala municipal polls see influx of independent candidates pledging transparency and direct democracy
Most of these movements are new, some being formed in the last few months , but are mostly helmed by those with some experience in social work or activism

Holding civic bodies accountable: From public audits to mohalla committees, many checks and balances are needed
In case of municipal bodies, accountability must begin with assessing whether a particular project is necessary at all

For Delhi authorities, curbing pollution is key to flattening the winter COVID-19 curve
The Delhi government has announced emergency measures from 15 October and set up a war room to monitor stubble burning and the resultant deterioration in air quality

Schools reopen after lockdown: Teachers, parents fear spiralling COVID-19 cases, say enforcing protocols no mean task
From demarcating spaces for parking of school buses to appointing staff for thermal checking, a lot of preparation is required to adhere to safety protocols

Crores allocated but Delhi smog from stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana likely to persist this winter too
Despite subsidies offered by state government, the capital cost requirement involved in alternatives to crop burning remains high, say experts

Out of work in COVID-19 lockdown, Delhi citizens try self-employment in hopes of rebuilding livelihoods
With millions out of work and many being forced to explore new avenues, it remains to be seen how much success these ventures have.

Delhi Metro resumes today: Expect cashless travel, empty alternate seats and longer stops
After a gap of more than five months and a week, metro stations and coaches of the National Capital Region will witness passengers willing to go through the restrictive, controlled and strictly enforced entry, travel and exit conditions

Nearly 1.5 cr people walk to work in Mumbai, but metropolis doesn’t prioritise pavements
Historically, large infrastructure projects in Mumbai like the Coastal Road or Bandra-Worli Sea Link have governed state imagination. But these projects only aide automobiles, not pedestrians

COVID-19 lockdown leaves Kota's coaching centres deserted; shift to online classes offers only hope
A once vibrant Kota now wears a deserted look, as most coaching classes and businesses allied to them have shut shop.

Poor in Bengaluru unsure of next meal during COVID-19 lockdown; low quality PDS ration, absence of mid-day meals contributed to food insecurity
Many poor people in Bengaluru were forced to depend on meals and rations provided through the philanthropic efforts of private individuals.

Lessons from COVID-19 lockdown: Employers must ensure social security for domestic workers through digital payments, pensions
The COVID-19 lockdown provides the best trigger as well as opportunity for the workers to switch to online transactions with employers.

Coronavirus Outbreak: From saviours to scourge of public, police wearing different hats during national disaster
It is the best of times and the worst of times for police around the country who have been ordered to enforce the prime minister’s nationwide lockdown, with images and videos of police behaviour, swinging from humane to violent playing out on TV screens and smart phones in every home.