Voluntarism does help, but fixing cities needs more

W

e shouldn’t fool ourselves that volunteers, however spirited, can seriously bring order to Bengaluru’s traffic. The idea is even less likely to work in the lawless streets of the NCR. Much more needs to be done in terms of traffic engineering and policing to improve flows and get drivers to follow rules.

Yet, any chance of improving the quality of urban life in India is lost without the participation of citizens. The example that traffic wardens set in Bengaluru is therefore to be celebrated.

The traffic wardens have day jobs and come from all walks of life. They are not paid and even buy their own uniforms. They are happy to be making a difference and, undoubtedly, seeing them in action inspires other citizens also to do their bit — even if that is just to follow the rules while driving.

Urban chaos builds slowly over the years and then becomes difficult to untangle from the hurly-burly that overtakes a city. Examples from across the world tell us that workable solutions are found at street level. Corporators, mayors, MLAs too need to get out of their offices to understand problems and solve them. It is then that the citizenry will be motivated to stay in line. The traffic wardens tell us that people they help on the streets are very grateful. It is not gratitude as much as seeing a fellow citizen trying to make life better.

Everyone knows a cancer patient or two these days. The incidence of the disease is rising. Private hospitals already see it as a business opportunity. But what about the vast majority of Indians? Do they find optimal treatment and when they survive do they have the wherewithal to endure the after-effects? We spoke with Dr Ravi Kannan at the Cachar Cancer Hospital for a perspective.

Our other interview this month is on the India Justice Report’s assessment of the functioning of consumer courts. It paints a worrying picture of serious gaps in the system. Consumer protection is not working even as consumers are growing in number. Should citizens be left at the mercy of companies?

Sanjaya Baru in his column raises the problem of noise pollution. Much of it is on the streets because of the noisy ways of people. But there are any number of products in homes that should have much lower decibel levels. You wouldn’t find redress for such a complaint in consumer courts the way they are now.

In the Living section we bring you the wondrous way in which masterpieces of Raja Ravi Varma have been replicated in sarees through weaving. It is extraordinary. We also check out the Tribes of India mela in Delhi’s Sunder Nursery.