City Pulse

After Janaagraha’s very first initiative to clean up its surroundings was a resounding success, the organisation took a cue and decided to make the second instalment of its clean-up drive much bigger and better. A strength of 200+ volunteers and employees walked into the UNI building on Monday morning last week, not knowing the lasting change they were going to be a part of. The game plan hadn’t really changed much. You could say it was improvised on, for it didn’t only involve changing of the face of the neighbourhood, but also meant involving everyone from corporates to residents to petty traders in and around the worksite. This initiative was much larger in terms of scale and area. It covered the UNI building, the whole of Thimmaiah road, Devraj Urs road all the way to the Millers tank bund road.

The two day offsite event culminated with a new life breathed into the neighbourhood. Cleaned up roads, walls painted with murals, cleared black spots et all drove home one point-change is here to stay. Neighbouring corporates such as Hyundai, Alliance Française de Bangalore extended help over both the days. The determined Janaagrahis inspired slum dwellers to join hands to clear up the mess we all created as occupants of this commercial locality. Swati Ramanathan and Ramesh Ramanathan, founders of Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy had one thing to say- The event epitomised the spirit and ideology of Janaagraha that change begins at home.

Here are some glimpses of what transpired over the two day event and the visible change that we are proud to have brought.