Students, civic groups throng Bengaluru Civic Fest

Over 30 civic organisations and citizen collectives converged at the Freedom Park on Thursday for a unique event: Bengaluru Civic Fest, a celebration of informed citizenship pitching for greater participation in how the city is governed, maintained and its future plans.

Being an open expo jointly organised by the Bruhath Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and I Change My City, the Civic Fest had school students as a special target audience. The students had put up stalls at the fest on civic projects, key civic agencies and state departments.

Also represented was the Election Commission of India, civil society organisations and Residents Welfare Associations. Sessions on story-telling, a playback theatre performance, a magic show, a Yakshagana act, drawing contests and a rock concert all added more punch to the fest.

Fifteen schools from six cities put up stalls on their civic projects shortlisted as part of 'I Change My City Challenge.' A total of 24,000 students submitted about 5,000 civic projects on www.ichangemycity.com. Mayor Gangambika Mallikarjun and BBMP Commissioner Manjunatha Prasad gave away awards to 10 winning teams.

The popular choice award based on voting by attending citizens went to Srimati Kamalabai School.

Displayed projects covered topics such as cloth bag use, alarms for excess water usage and use of tech-savvy helmets that ensure vehicles do not start if the headgears are not worn.

“The civic fest gives us hope that school students themselves are solving civic problems. We all need to consider Bengaluru city as our home and only when we work with that mindset can solve its problems. I request all citizens to take up issues like waste segregation in their own homes so we all contribute to a better Bengaluru” said mayor Gangambike Mallikarjuna.