Bengaluru: The students of Oasis International School chose to work towards the improvement of Thanisandra Main Road as a part of their Bala Janaagraha Project on – Or Roads, the Tender Sure Way.This road is divided by a median which separates the road into two different wards.One part of the road comes under ward number 6; coperatorMrs.

Mamtha Venkatesh, MLA Krishnabyregowda and Byatarayanapura Constituency. The other part comes under ward number 24; corporator. Mr.P Anand and MLA as Mr. K J George, Sarvagnanagar Constituency.

The problems faced by the residents of this area are:

• Traffic congestion especially after 5:00 in evening create alot of air pollution and sometimes causes accidents.
• Footpaths are not properly built; they are too narrow, irregular, uneven and broken all along the road. Many shops have encroached on the footpath.
  There is no parking facility anywhere along this road.
• Along the part of the road which the students surveyed, two streetlights were broken and two not in working conditions. A major part is lit by hoardings and light from the apartments.
• The drains overflow due to heavy rains.
• There is alot of garbage found nearly everywhere.
• There are no public washrooms, park, etc.
• The median is not straight at places and has not a single plant.

Actions taken by the students were as follows:

• The students spoke to the corporators of both the wards who said that they would ensure that the garbage is pick-up regularly and the potholes are filled.
• The students spoke to the security manager of 4 Star Hotel Howard Johnson who offered to place dustbins and saplings along this road in future when the road is done.
• They lodged complaints in many websites such as www.ichangemycity., People’s Problems, Deccan Herald, wrote to “Saytrees” who would provide saplings to plant.
• A cleanliness drive was organized in the presence of the health officer of ward 6 and civil engineer of BBMP.
• An invited was emailed to Dettol India for their contribution in the cleanliness drive.
• The students sent water sample to BS Analytical Testing Laboratory to check if the water was safe for drinking. The report said that the water was chemical and physical safe for drinking.
• They hung pollution catchers by greasing two paper plates to check the dust collecting on them due to traffic movement.
• A traffic and pedestrian count to verify the amount of traffic flow and people using the footpath was conducted.

Solutions:

• Immediate results were that intense cleaning took place, manhole and some storm water drains were covered and a few potholes were filled soon after.
• The students organized a free medical camp at Saraipalya at Umar Farooq Masjid with the help of Islamic Information Centre. There were about 300 people who got their eyes, dental and general check up. Free medicines and toothpastes were distributed. Many people had their blood sugar test done and 13 free cataract surgery were registered.
• Many people in the locality were made aware of their situation and informed to contact helpline number to lodge complaint regarding civic issues. A tract was allotted as auto stand which eased the people shopping/travelling in this area.

This project by BalaJanaagraha organisation has got not only the students actively involved the local issues but also their parents and neighbours.; and inturn, made the officials alert and reminded them of their duties. This could be a drop in the ocean, never-the-less, it has made a difference in the lives of all these janaagrahis!