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EDP Insight
Shraddha Maheshwari
Long wait for gymnasium
With insufficient sports facilities in Bhola Nath Nagar and nearby areas, school children of Babu Ram School, Rajkiya Bal/Balika Uchttam Madhyamik Vidyalaya Number 3 in the area and other children are waiting desperately for the completion of the gymnasium in the school premises. Work on it began in July 2006 and was to be completed within six months. It is still incomplete.
Children play among the piles of bricks despite warnings that they might be hurt. A school official says: "We wrote to the deputy director of sports in the Delhi Education department informing him about the pending work and the danger it can cause to children. The deputy director wrote to the Public Works Department in April 2008, the agency that is handling the construction, expressing his displeasure over not completing the work in time. The work was stalled for eight months before it took off in November end."
Another school official said that the PWD, giving reason for the delay in work, said that the contractor for the work had abandoned it. "Another contractor too followed suit and now we have come to know that the PWD officials had come to an understanding with the second contractor. The work has begun but it is going on at a snail’s pace." The gym is being constructed in an area of 600 sq. m and will have a badminton court, two tables for table tennis and facilities for gymnastics. There will be separate changing rooms for boys and girls. Facilities will be provided free. The official said that school children will be given first priority with a separate timing for children from outside. The gym will cater to the sports needs of the children of the area.
Bitoo (16), a resident of Bhola Nath Nagar, often uses the playground of Babu Ram School as there is no playground in the area. Though a board in the school prohibits outside children from using the premises, nobody listens. Manish says: "Where should we play? We have no option as there is no playground in the vicinity. We are long waiting for the gym. I think the authorities should also think of providing a playground, which is badly needed for outdoor games."
Police Chowki in decrepit state
Is the Delhi government really committed to control crime? About three years ago, residents of Kabir Nagar in the North-East district got a police chowki constructed in their area with their own money so that two police officers could be posted there. No one has come. The chowki was constructed near Harihar cremation ground, the place from where several incidents of crime had been reported. Attaul Hassan, the general secretary of Sahara Sewa Samiti, Kabir Nagar, says: "The chowki was constructed in consultation with the then deputy commissioner of police, Devesh Srivastava, then additional commissioner of police Rajiv Ranjan and then Welcome police station SHO Sharma. We began construction once they assured us that two police officers will be posted to it."
Shiv Kumar Sharma, the president of the Samiti, says: "We spent about Rs 30,000 in building the cemented structure and also provided four chairs and a table. The inauguration of the chowki was attended by the then DCP, and then SHO Yadav and then MCD councillor Ishwar Singh Bagri. We were assured that soon two policemen would be allotted to the chowki. "
As the area falls under the jurisdiction of Welcome police station, the residents went there to enquire why no policeman was posted to the chowki. They were told nobody would be sent there. The reason given was that the garbage dump opposite the chowki emits foul smell as garbage is not collected regularly. After a few days, the furniture was stolen and even the doors are missing. Now the structure is damaged.
Residents say the place where the chowki was constructed is a vulnerable area. Crimes of robbery are common there. Shagir Ahmed, a resident of the area, says: "About a year ago, my son was robbed there but no FIR was registered." Residents demand that policemen should be posted here to decrease the crime rate in the area.
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