Bengaluru: As citizen activism drives considerable changes to the city’s civic infrastructure, some even arise within the four walls of the classroom.At Saturday’s SolveCon 26 event organised by city-based non-profit Reap Benefit, 1,700 changemakers from across the country were at the forefront, recognised for their responsible interventions in society. The young minds, the majority of them from Karnataka, worked on civic action, education, climate and mental well-being within their localities.
——-Box 1:When streetlights didn’t work…Shahnaaz N, class 8 student, GHS Police ColonyDrawing inspiration from her elder sister, 14-year-old Shahnaaz initially worked along with her schoolmates to solve local issues. Due to the inactivity of her teammates, she started working alone and managed to solve four problems related to waste and streetlights so far.Her first intervention came a year ago when garbage was being thrown near the gates of houses. “Dogs were scattering it everywhere, causing a bad smell and unhygienic surroundings,” she noted. Speaking to local residents, she found out that people dumped rubbish on the roads as their working hours did not match the BBMP vehicle schedule.Taking matters into her own hands, she reported the issue to the erstwhile BBMP, which paid off within two days. Shahnaaz also conducted a streetlight audit in her locality. “Using a 15-30 minute chatbot-based tool, I recorded the number of functioning and non-functioning lights, their placement, and their impact on safety, particularly for women and children,” the Gopalpura resident said.She also explained that there were initial backlashes within her locality, with neighbours not cooperating with her due to her young age.———Box 2:Why did her team distribute 1,400 paper bags?Chandu A, BCom studentChandu A, a 20-year-old BCom final-year student of BES College, worked on issues such as waste management, reducing plastic use, and promoting sustainable alternatives in the community.After completing her schooling in her native place of Kolar, she found plastic and paper waste a serious threat to the environment in Bengaluru. When she visited Kadlekai Parishe last Nov, she found out that the vendors were using plastic covers.“In order to reduce plastic use, we, with our college, took the initiative to run a campaign called ‘Say No To Plastic’. We made paper bags using newspapers. As part of a GBA campaign, we successfully distributed 1,400 paper bags to vendors. By using these paper bags, they reduced the use of plastic covers to some extent,” she explained.———Box 3:How she stop garbage burningMaguluri Bhavishya, class 9 studentMaguluri Bhavishya, a 15-year-old from Whitefield, worked on tree planting and water conservation. A student of Ramagondanahalli Govt School, she encountered constant smoke and odour due to the burning of rubbish around her school compound.She took the initiative herself with support of her school and contacted BBMP workers, ensuring the area was cleaned and beautified. During the next few months, her clean-ups continued inside the school compound, which also included a planting activity.Bhavishya, at the age of six, shifted to Bengaluru with her parents, who now run a roadside food stall. “I’m originally from Andhra Pradesh. In my village near Ongole, I previously fought against caste discrimination in schools. Due to that, I always have the will to question the problems in society. While my parents were scared initially, now they support me.”————Box 4:When she found toilets at bus stand dirtyNavyashree GB, 24, X-ray technicianNavyashree noticed in April 2025 that commuting by bus became unsafe and risky for women at Krishnarajanagara in Mysuru.She found out that the KSRTC bus stand there was full of filth and lacked lighting. “There was no safety for women there. The washrooms for women were unusable and unclean. Taking a bus from there was very difficult. The women’s waiting room turned into a storage room,” she said.Along with her team of around 50 people, Navyashree conducted surveys, speaking to female commuters to understand their requirements. Following the survey, the team of youths approached the local MLA D Ravishankar. This initiative addressed the poor and unsafe infrastructure there.“The job is not fully done. Our team is still monitoring the bus stand every day to make sure the facilities are properly maintained,” she added.
