All game for children's parks

MCD plans areas for kids' recreation in every locality

MCD plans areas for kids' recreation in every locality

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has had a change of heart. Within a year of not being very enthusiastic about the vanishing children's parks in the Capital, the civic body is mulling over the idea of constructing Shishu Vatikas in every ward for recreational activities of kids.

"The civic body is working on a proposal in which Shishu Vatikas will be developed in every ward for children below the age of 10 years," said the new chairman of the MCD Standing Committee, Ram Kishan Singhal.
Singhal plans to either develop the existing parks as Shishu Vatikas or construct new ones.

The MCD may handover the maintenance of these parks to private parties. "We are aware that city parks are poorly maintained. And to remedy this, we plan to engage a private company for their proper upkeep," he said.
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Last year, the shrinking space for recreational activities of children had snowballed into a major political issue and a few RWAs had even approached Lieutenant Governor (LG) of NCT of Delhi, Tejendra Khanna for restoration of child rights.
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The LG had ordered the setting up of a Delhi Parks and Garden Society but so far it has remained only on paper. The MCD had opposed the idea, claiming that the Delhi government was trying to encroach upon its jurisdiction.
However, the civic body's recent change of heart has been welcomed by residents. "Any initiative by the MCD to give back our children their right to play is welcome," said Rajiv Kakria, a member of the Greater Kailash-I Residents' Welfare Association. Delhi has 272 wards and over 2,200 parks of different sizes, including 500 for children.

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