Bal Bhavan gets state’s first therapeutic park

Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT

Bengaluru: Come January 26, Jawahar Bal Bhavan will add one more feather to its cap: a therapeutic park with a garden for physically-challenged children, the first of its kind in the state. “We’re hoping we can open it on Republic Day,” said Chikkamma Basavaraj, Chairman, Jawahar Bal Bhavan.

The specially-designed park allows physically-challenged children to play games without having to alight from their wheelchairs. “Some of the sports equipment is being imported,” Chikkamma said. As soon as she assumed office as the Chairman of Jawahar Bal Bhavan, Chikkamma began contemplating what she could do to benefit physically-challenged children. However, the office was strapped for funds and not much headway was made, until she was approached by a team from Mindtree, who came with a proposal similar to what she had had in mind.

The Bengaluru Smart City Limited (BSCL) has engaged a contractor to prepare the ground so the sports equipment can be installed. The location is a vacant space near the entrance of Jawahar Bal Bhavan, opposite the Lotus Pond. “The therapeutic park will have a music ball, a tunnel and other facilities. Physically-challenged children can play here without having to get out of their wheelchairs. I want to ensure that they have all the amenities they need at the park, which we are aiming to make one of the best of its kind in the state,” Chikkamma said.

According to reliable sources, the therapeutic park is expected to be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 1 crore. The sources said that all these years, physically-challenged children have not visited Jawahar Bal Bhavan due to the lack of facilities.

The initiative is the need of the hour, says activist Priya Chetty Rajagopal. “It should be developed with sensitivity and be of real benefit to physically-challenged children. However, the space provided inside Cubbon Park for Jawahar Bal Bhavan is being underutilised. I have written the Chairman, three letters but haven’t received a response,” she added.

S. Umesh, President of the Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association wants to ensure however that authorities utilise the funds provided by Mindtree “only on that project.”

Dr Rukmini Krishnaswamy, Director, Spastics Society of Karnataka, meanwhile has welcomed the decision to construct a therapeutic park for physically-challenged children. “It is a good decision. It will help physically-challenged children, provided there is proper guidance for them there,” she said.