As a Campaign Organizer for "Our Mobility, Our Voice" in August 2024, I spearheaded a year-long initiative to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of poor road conditions on the community. This campaign was meticulously developed and managed, focusing on the urgent need for road maintenance and improvement to enhance public safety and reduce commute times. Through strategic outreach and advocacy, I successfully mobilized community support and highlighted the critical issues caused by inadequate infrastructure.
In my role, I took a proactive approach by directly engaging with key stakeholders, including a personal visit to the police commissioner, where I presented data collected during a comprehensive transect drive. This data-driven approach allowed me to offer well-informed solutions to government officials, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing road safety and improving road conditions. My efforts were instrumental in urging the government to take action, ultimately contributing to a safer and more efficient transportation network for the community.
Namma Raaste was a high-impact conference dedicated to addressing the pressing issues of road infrastructure and urban mobility in our state. Hosted by key government bodies and attended by influential political figures, including the Deputy Chief Minister, the event served as a collaborative platform for policymakers, activists, and citizens to drive actionable change.
I was invited to speak about my campaign, Our Mobility, Our Voice, sharing my journey of advocating for safer and more efficient roads. In a TED-style talk, I highlighted the power of youth-driven activism and data-backed solutions in influencing policy. Additionally, I participated in a roundtable discussion alongside government officials and policymakers, contributing insights on citizen engagement and sustainable urban planning.
Collaborative Traffic Improvement Initiatives
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Positive Outlook: Gained optimism about addressing Bangalore's traffic challenges under the leadership of the Traffic Police team.
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Next Steps Agreed Upon:
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School Traffic Survey: Conduct a survey on SH 35 schools to gather data on vehicles, pickup/drop points.
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October Meeting: Organize a meeting with area schools at Inventure Academy to align on common goals.
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Data Analysis: Traffic police to use API for data analysis from Inventure buses and possibly other schools.
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Traffic Simulation: Run simulations based on school and corporate timing adjustments to reduce congestion.
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Heavy Vehicle Restriction: Stop heavy vehicles on Hope Farm to Domassandra route from 2 PM onwards.
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Social Media Campaigns: Schools to design monthly traffic awareness campaigns; BTP to amplify messages.
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Enforcement Focus: Police to enforce rules like no parking on pavements and wrong-side driving, aligning with monthly campaigns.
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Student Contributions: Encourage students to report potholes and traffic violations via apps and social media.
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Meeting with CPI: Present simulation data and recommendations on school timings and mass transport options.
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Social Media Engagement: Proposed sharing or co-creating a social media post with BTP about the visit and next steps, inviting public input or collaboration.
CAMPAIGN EVENTS
CITIZENS AWARENESS MARCH
As part of the Our Mobility Our Voice Campaign, I helped organise a Citizen’s Awareness March to urge the government to address traffic solutions, improve road infrastructure, and foster positive attitudes toward road safety and public transport.
This included students of grades 9 - 12 to voice their concerns and join us in a peaceful march to the Vidhaan Soudha. It was aimed to raise awareness about poor road conditions and the adverse impact this has on our overall well-being.
TRAFFIC TROUBLES: STUDENT VOICES AND EXPERIENCES OF DAILY COMMUTES
Hosted an online Launch Event with over 300 participants for an engaging discussion on transport and traffic issues with schools from across Bangalore. This event aimed to inspire new perspectives and motivate students and other people to mobilise to make change in our city. I also invited a distinguished keynote speaker to address the topic as well.
The event included a showcase of creativity from students by including performances related to transport— dance, song, or skit. performance
CALL IT OUT CAMPAIGN
Created a hashtag using an Instagram account. Students and other Bangaloreans use it to post photos and videos of disruptions in the roads and traffic violators on their daily commute. #callitout #SmoothRoadsSwiftRides, #SafeCommutes, and #FixOurRoads.
SOCIAL MEDIA AWARENESS
To give students a platform to voice their concerns about the traffic situation and speak about how long and exhausting commutes to and from school every day affect their physical and mental well-being I created an Instagram account where I collect student testimonials, small write-ups around this issue, post campaign event updates and other statistics around traffic.
OUR MOBILITY OUR VOICE: CMC contender
A challenge involving over 90 schools around India where students tackle real problems in their city/area!
Teams get to:
- Make a real impact!
- Level up problem-solving & leadership
- Get funded - a total of ₹12 lakhs in project funding
- Learn from experts & hone your skills
Our campaign has made it to the top 20 schools in the challenge so far now we need to turn ideas into action.