Bangalore: Children turn critics, show the way for urban planning

The authorities in Bangalore may be apathetic to the civic problems in the city, but 13-year-olds are not willing to make do with it.

Students from more than 360 schools in the city assessed the roads in front of their schools and homes and found that they are lacking in many areas. The initiative, a part of the Bala Janaagraha project, tried to instil a sense of civic responsibility in young students.

The report of the team of students from Oasis International School, who scrutinised the condition of Commercial Street, said not only is the footpath damaged, but garbage and debris are dumped on it.

Their report said walking on footpath is difficult while walking on the road is dangerous, an issue only compounded by the fact that traffic rules are not followed on the roads, what with parked cars occupying space on them.

The road in front of the East West School on Wadia Road in Basavangudi does not even have a board that reads ‘School Zone’. A student Rachana Ravikumar said here, too, the footpath cannot be used because construction material and garbage are dumped on it, besides cars that are parked on it.

The students also conducted a survey among the residents of their area.

Stark apathy
“Most of them don’t want to involve themselves in these issues,” said Anusha Kiran. “They ask us why we are bothered.”
Valli Narasimha, manager of Bala Janaagraha, said: “Although, at first, we were apprehensive about giving them a complex project such as this one, we decided to give the children a chance and they have come up with some incredible solutions.”

Some of the solutions the students offered include cleaner bus stops and well-maintained footpaths. Another idea that was much appreciated was having exclusive space along roads for parking, so that vehicle movement is not affected.

“Not all of these will be practical solutions. The authorities may not even take these children seriously, nevertheless, it shows that these kids have put some thought into urban planning and have observed the lack of planning in a lot of areas in our city,” said Narasimha.

Bala Janaagraha hopes that the hard work of these children will not go in vain. Narasimha said the students were asked to provide an alternative plan for the roads they assessed.

She said some students have already got in touch with their corporators or local leaders. Narasimha said Bala Janaagraha wishes to summarise the children’s reports along with its own inputs and offer practical solutions to the authorities.