[sustran] [Talk Invite]: Bussing in contemporary Bengaluru: A preliminary study of its social and political elements.

[H. S. Sudhira]

Apologies for cross-posting.

Sudhira.
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Gubbbi Labs
www.gubbilabs.in

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Bangalore Bus Prayanikara Vedike
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invites you to a talk on the bus-system in Bangalore titled - *


*Bussing in contemporary Bengaluru: A preliminary study of its social and
political elements*

The talk will be delivered by Dr.Govind Gopakumar (Centre for Engineering
in Society, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada) and Rajani S
S(Independent Consultant)

The details of the venue and date are as follows -

*Venue* : Alternative Law Forum,  #122/4, Infantry Road, Bangalore-560001.
Landmark : Close to Medinova Diagnostics

*Time and Date* : 11.00 AM - 1.00 PM ; 3rd August ; Saturday

*All are invited.*

*Abstract*

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), a parastatal
organization constituted by the Government of Karnataka in 1997,
administers bus transportation in the city of Bengaluru. Although BMTC
manages one of the largest fleets of buses in the country, given its
critical role in public transportation in Bengaluru, numerous actors such
as civil society, activists, professional consultants, and academics have
examined different aspects of the city’s bus transportation. Such inquiries
have become all the more relevant in the context of the far-reaching
changes at the operational, infrastructural, and technological levels that
Bangaloreans have been witness to in the last few years. The concurrence of
these changes indicates a potential paradigm shift in the experience of
utilizing buses (or bussing) in Bengaluru. Given the significant influence
that public transportation exerts on livelihoods and quality of life of
citizens, an examination of the social and political aspects is
indispensable to understanding the consequences of this shift. This
presentation is the result of a preliminary investigation into the social
and political dimensions of bussing in Bengaluru. It proceeds by proposing
a framework to understand bussing and then presents some initial
qualitative data to flesh out the framework. While it is still early to
present conclusive findings, the presentation will conclude by suggesting
some preliminary directions in which bussing appears to be proceeding in
Bengaluru.


*About the Speakers*

*Govind Gopakumar* is Associate Chair and Assistant Professor at the Centre
for Engineering in Society at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. His
primary research interest is in understanding the social, technical and
policy dynamics of change in public infrastructure in cities of the
developing world. His current research project titled Assembling
Infrastructure Decongestion is funded by the Social Science and Humanities
Research Council (SSHRC) Canada. His book, Transforming Urban Water Supply
Regimes in Cities in India, was published by Routledge in 2012. A secondary
interest is in understanding the process of transformation in engineering
education. At Concordia, Govind has developed and taught several courses
including Technology and Society, Engineering Ethics and Professionalism,
and Development and Global Engineering.

*Rajani  SS* has been working in the development sector for the last twenty
five years across sectors in different capacities. She has been working on
issues ranging from Urban Poverty,* *Women’s Empowerment, Empowerment of
Women Elected Representatives in Local Governance (Panchayati Raj
Institutions). Housing & Habitat issues, Micro Credit & Livelihood
activities, Nutrition and Health of Women & Children and Counseling and
Guidance to Women and Children in distress. In her most recent assignment
she was heading the regional office of the Indo-Global Social Service
Society (IGSSS) , working on Urban Homelessness. She coordinated a city
wide survey on homelessness and also coordinated a civil society forum on
the same. The forum worked with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike to
open shelters for the homeless in Bangalore and other activities towards
the welfare of the urban homeless in Bangalore.

-- 
Vinay K Sreenivasa
Alternative Law Forum
98805 95032
122/4, Infantry Road,
(Opposite Infantry Wedding Hall)
Bangalore 560001

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Bangalore Bus Prayanikara Vedike
 ~ Bangalore Bus Commuters Forum
*