Vikram Rai joined “The Thing With This One Is” podcast with Ram Deshpande. Vikram is the President of Bangalore Apartments’ Federation (BAF). He also has his own healthtech startup called Vitor Health. In this episode, we focused on Vikram’s work with the BAF.

Urban living in India has transformed over the last couple of decades. Whether we live in apartments or independent houses, there is a sharing of resources that happens. That leads to rules and regulations, which when are flouted there are conflicts. Most places have Resident Welfare Associations or RWAs or societies to take care of these conflicts and ensure a proper living environment. In Bengaluru, all these RWAs have an umbrella body which is the Bengaluru Apartments Federation, led by Vikram.

In this podcast, Vikram has described how BAF

- began and grew on the back of citizens’ agitations

- is not just about agitations though but effectively represents residents’ concern and solves the problems by collaborating with the government, civic bodies, and other entities

- has handled multiple issues in the past and what its current focus areas are

- is also a ready resource for all information needed for better urban living. This includesresources on a range of topics including rooftop solar, water connection, STPs, common area electricity, fire safety, workers training, and many more. Everything is available on BAF’s website and its app.

While many serious topics have been addressed by Vikram, funny yet important topics emanating from RWA or society WhatsApp groups have also been discussed. No topic is off limit. Pets, lifts, parking, business promotions, and many others.

BAF is an excellent example for other cities to follow. Vikramand others at BAF are available to share their expertise with folks from othercities.

Follow Vikram Rai:

X - https://x.com/raizerius

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/raizerius/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raivikram/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rai.vikram/

Follow Bangalore Apartments’ Federation (BAF)

YouTube Page : https://www.youtube.com/bafbangalore

Insta Handle : https://www.instagram.com/bafbangalore/

X Handle : https://x.com/bafblr

FB Page :https://www.facebook.com/BangaloreApartmentsFederation/

LinkedIn Page :https://www.linkedin.com/company/bangalore-apartments-federation/

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Chapters

00:00Intro and sneak peek

04:40 Podcast starts

07:30 How was the Bangalore Apartments Federation formed

14:18 How BAF grew as an umbrella body representing interestsof lakhs of people

19:30 The thing about ‘every vote matters’

21:33 The people of BAF, their corporate professionalapproach, and the structure of BAF

29:45 The thing with Bengaluru

32:58 BAF has an app and it has a lot of useful information

34:22 BAF’s work with Horticultural Producers' CooperativeMarketing and Processing Society (HOPCOMs)

36:43 BAF’s multiple programs – teaching Kannada, MoU withtraffic police, sale of treated water, overall water management, helping newRWAs with many complicated processes

42:40 Training and education of RWA staff, workers, and committeemembers; collab with IIM-B

46:05 The thing with building compliance requirements

48:38 BAF’s work on climate and sustainability issues; theHasiru program

52:12 Issues from RWA WhatsApp groups

53:07 Pets and other animals

58:25 Lifts

1:05:01 Parking

1:07:05 Workers making noise

1:08:09 Trash clearance

1:10:26 Shoes in the hallway

1:14:06 Promoting businesses on WhatsApp groups

1:16:12 Kids

1:17:34 Fire hazard

1:18:32 The thing with lack of courtesy

1:19:55 RWA committee members fighting on WhatsApp; how BAFdoes dispute resolution

1:23:30 RWA WhatsApp providing material to standup comedians