Jhatkaa victories and milestones
Karnataka govt officials in talks with HSR Layout residents to clean up stink at KCDC plant
MILESTONE: Around 6,000 Bengalureans signed and shared a petition asking the BBMP and government officials to clean up the stink at KCDC compost plant in HSR Layout. This compost plant has been causing lung and skin diseases among residents. Citizen pressure WORKED! Now, a Joint Action Team of citizens and officials has been formed with January 2018 deadline to clean up this mess. Learn more about the campaign here.
Panchayat promises to clear and fence illegal dumping ground
VICTORY: Over 300 residents of several apartment complexes in Whitefield, Bengaluru, signed a petition started by another resident on Air A!ert asking the local panchayat to clear an illegal dumping ground. This was a breeding ground for diseases as well as a cause for air pollution. The residents approached the panchayat and their voices were heard. This campaign was won in just 4 days!
BBMP promises to not cut more trees on Old Airport Road
MILESTONE: Thousands of Bengalureans signed a petition started by a fellow citizens and hundreds joined him on Old Airport Road to protect the city’s glorious trees from being cut for the signal-free corridor. BBMP heard the voices of these passionate citizens and promised to not cut more trees on this stretch.
Environment ministry scraps controversial plan after receiving emails from thousands of Jhatkaa members
VICTORY: The government received more than 25,000 emails from Indians including Jhatkaa members opposing the controversial Environment Supplemental Plan. This plan would have allowed companies to continue working on projects that violated environmental norms by simply paying a fine. The government heard voices of these concerned Indians who spoke on behalf of the ecological sensitive areas like the Western Ghats. Learn more about the campaign here.
BMTC keeps its promise: Buys 1,500 new buses!
MILESTONE: Bengaluru’s public transport department announced that the new introduction of 1,500 new buses on June 10. This comes after 1,800 Bengalureans signed the petition on Air A!ert urging the department to keep its promise of a June deadline.
Karnataka Governor blocks a bill that would reduce public open spaces
VICTORY: Over 11,000 Jhatkaa members signed our petition asking Karnataka Governor Vala to stall the Karnataka Urban Development Authorities (Amendment) Bill, 2016 which will reduce public spaces like gardens and parks by 5%. The governor did just that and sent the bill back to the legislature for review.
Karnataka government cancels plans for the steel flyover
MILESTONE: More than 1.6 lakh Jhatkaa members took action on our campaign asking the government to look at all alternatives before cutting trees for development purposes. The government decided to not go ahead with the dreaded steel flyover, thus saving more than 800 big and beautiful trees. Learn more about our campaign and take action.
A committee is considering a proposal to make ECPs available over the counter
MILESTONE: Jhatkaa members signed a petition to lift the ban on emergency contraceptive pills in Tamil Nadu. The state’s Drug Control Director has submitted a proposal to the Centre asking them to ensure that ECPs are available over the counter across India by moving them from Schedule H to Schedule K of the Drugs Act. Learn more about the campaign and take action.
BBMP issues penalty orders for open garbage burning
MILESTONE: 5 months after we launched the #Bangaloreisburning campaign, BBMP Joint Commissioner (Solid Waste Management and Health) Sarfaraz Khan has issued penalty orders for open garbage burning! Now every time a contractor burns garbage they will be fined. Learn more about the campaign and take action here.
Lemon Tree takes down their sexist poster and issues public apology
VICTORY: After Jhatkaa's rapid response campaign asking for Lemon Tree to take down their sexist poster and apologise went viral, Lemon Tree reached out to Jhatkaa to inform us the poster was taken down. Shortly after, they gave Jhatkaa a formal apology!
Unilever agrees to compensate ex-workers after 15 years
VICTORY: 8 months after Jhatkaa and the Chennai Solidarity Group launched the viral “Kodaikanal Won’t” music video and petition, Hindustan Unilever agreed to compensate 951 of their ex-workers in Kodaikanal after they were poisoned with mercury pollution from the factory! Learn more and take action here.
Government announces high standard vehicular emissions
VICTORY: Hundreds of Jhatkaa members wrote to the Ministry of Road, Transportation and Highways and urged them to implement the highest standard to control emissions from vehicles as soon as possible. The government agreed to do just that! Learn more here and join our ongoing campaign against air pollution here.
TRAI announces decision to ban differential pricing
VICTORY: After hundreds of thousands of Jhaktaa.org members and Indian citizens continuously raised their voices for net neutrality, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India banned differential pricing -- a practice that violates net neutrality. Learn more and take action here.
Misinformation on Western Ghats exposed
MILESTONE: Jhatkaa's fact finding report impacted the public discourse on the issue of saving the biodiverse Western Ghats and exposed the misinformation that has been spread in the local communities. More than 2000 Jhatkaa members submitted public comments on draft notification on protection of the Ghats.
Flipkart pulls out of net neutrality violating deal with Airtel
VICTORY: Jhatkaa members demanded that Flipkart, India's largest e-retailer, pull out of a net neutrality-violating deal with Airtel. Given pressure from Indian citizens and Jhatkaa members, the Vice President of Flipkart personally wrote to Jhatkaa to let us know they would not be going forward with the deal. Learn more here.
Home Ministry implements anti-racism report
VICTORY: Jhatkaa members made the Ministry of Home Affairs agree to implement an important set of anti-racism measures for citizens from North East India. The Bezbaruah committee report now has a clear timeline for implementing measures in education, awareness, legal support and protection thanks to us. Jhatkaa even got a special thanks for our work from the Deputy Director of the Ministry’s North East Division who was championing the measures within the government. Learn more here.
Harsh Vardhan and Shaina NC stand for LGBTQ rights
MILESTONE: Jhatkaa members put pressure on BJP leader Shaina NC to advocate for equal rights for LGBTQ people and she promised action. Jhatkaa volunteers also met with Health Minister Harsh Vardhan to urge him to act on his statement saying LGBTQ people deserve equal rights. Learn more here.
Cleaning the Ganga becomes a 2014 election priority
VICTORY: Thanks to Jhatkaa.org members in Varanasi and our partners at Sankat Mochan Foundation, cleaning the Ganga river became an election issue. Every major political party promised to take strong steps to clean the Ganga if elected. Learn more about the campaign here.
Delhi High Court sends sexist Judge Virendra Bhatt to gender sensitisation training
After Delhi Fast Track Court Judge Virendra Bhatt made a sexist comment in the judgement of a sexual violence case, Jhaktaa ran a campaign and met with Delhi High Court Chief Justice asking for Bhatt to be removed from all sexual violence cases. Thanks to the campaign, the Delhi High Court ordered Bhatt to take a gender sensitisation training.