Great minds make great prescriptions

Great minds make great prescriptions
Panelists Churn Out Ideas On Clean Bangalore, Improved Traffic, Education
The Times of India

Bangalore: The setting sun, some threatening clouds and the enveloping darkness formed the initial backdrop. But by the time the two-hour, powerpacked event at the beautiful Bangalore Palace ended on Wednesday night, one could already sense the beginnings of a new day, a Refreshed Bangalore.

The architect of Bangalore’s software might and global renown, N R Narayana Murthy, set the stage for the panel discussion on Vision Bangalore — organised by The Times of India — by focusing on the need for building talent by broadening the scale of English education.

Murthy said any child must have the option to go to an English-medium school. “Many of the cleaning women in Infosys have told me they would like to send their children to English-medium schools so that they could grow up to be in professions like software. But there aren’t enough of such schools,” he said. He urged CM H D Kumaraswamy, also on the panel, to issue an order that would allow anybody to start English-medium schools.

The CM agreed a focus on education would ensure the future of Bangalore, but wondered whether those starting English schools are serious about mass education. “They invariably ask for big donations,” he said, to which Murthy suggested the schools should be obliged to admit a certain proportion of children from economically weak backgrounds.

Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw underscored the need for a “clean and green” Bangalore. “Builders and private citizens too need to do a lot to ensure a litter-free city.”

Historian and writer Ramachandra Guha echoed that same sentiment, urging people to cherish their history, especially protect parks and water bodies.

Samuel Paul, founder of Public Affairs Centre, felt that at the root of issues like poor education, waste management and other basic facilities is the inadequacy of public institutions that are meant to deliver these services. “Our system of governance must be modernised and made accountable,” he said.

Mazumdar suggested that a cell be formed, maybe within the BMP, which would be given the powers to implement projects properly.

There was an animated discussion on the condition of Bangalore’s traffic and roads. A number of people in the audience underscored the need for a good public transport system.

Dr Devi Shetty, Narayana Hrudayalaya chairman and one of the panelists, said the private sector should be allowed to build roads, while the government reserve its funds for village roads. The CM said public transport is being strengthened through the Metro Rail, the addition of 100 new Volvo buses in the next three months and 20 ladies’ special buses from Thursday. Congestion in Bangalore is being sought to be reduced by developing satellite towns.

The discussion moderated by H S Balram, Resident Editor, The Times of India, and Arnab Goswami of Times Now was curtailed by a spell of rain. The many who mobbed the moderators at the end of the event could be heard urging them to have a follow-up programme. They will not be disappointed. Because in the next one month, TOI’s Refresh Bangalore campaign will do precisely that.

CM unspools vision
Chief minister Kumaraswamy unfolded his own vision of Bangalore and made policy statements at the Vision Bangalore event. Here are some of his plans:

• Greater Bangalore, comprising 7 CMCs, 1 TMC and eight taluks of Bangalore Rural district, will come into effect from November 1.

• Bangalore will be renamed Bengaluru.

• The mayor of Greater Bangalore could be directly elected.