Bengaluru :

Shaila Prabhu (53), a software programmer turned social activist, is a known name in the bylanes of Vidyaranyapura. From battling threats to knocking on the court’s door, she’s done whatever it takes to reclaim pedestrian space in the area. Thanks to the crusader, the north Bengaluru locality today is home to wider footpaths, free of encroachments and hawkers.

About a year ago, pavements along Vidyaranyapura main road and others in the vicinity had no room for walkers. Commercial establishments, backed by the builder lobby, had encroached upon them. Children and senior citizens had no option but to walk amid speeding vehicles, putting their lives at grave risk. The number of accidents had also shot up.

It was then that a group of proactive citizens decided to take matters in its own hands, recalled Shaila. “In February 2014, we did an independent study to analyze the status of footpaths and other pedestrian infrastructure in the area. In some places, ramps and steps from buildings extended till the edge of the road, leaving no space for walkers,” she added.

Shaila and others then approached BBMP officials. “Some of them came forward to clear the mess but backed out soon. Some were hand in glove with groups having vested interests. It got so ugly that I I began to get threat calls asking to me to withdraw,” she added. That’s when residents chose to take the legal route.

Nirmala K, a resident of Vidyaranyapura, said she began to see a turnaround when the high court started issuing orders to BBMP to act on public complaints. “Officials have also become fearless now. They quote court orders whenever someone tries to put pressure on them. Encroachments are being cleared for sometime now. Several buildings are ensuring they redesign their structures, and walkers have more space to move around,” she added.

Legal route, social tools

We began to file affidavits furnished with details on encroachments, road by road. I was shocked to see that BBMP was providing wrong information to the court on footpath status. We took photographs of pavements and attached them to the affidavits. We kept the momentum going by conducting awareness drives and activities like cleaning and painting footpaths. We even made use of social media — the Facebook page of Vidyaranyapura residents and WhatsApp forums — to spread the message.
Shaila Prabhu, social activist

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bengaluru / by Rohith B R, TNN / March 06th, 2015