Bal Bhawan in a shambles as Admn looks the other way

Aarti Kapur

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 29

Bal Bhawan, a creative resource centre for the overall development of children in the age group of 5-16 years, in Sector 23, Chandigarh, is now a shambles. The centre is waiting for the upgrade and revival of extra-curricular classes, discontinued a few years ago.

The Chandigarh Administration has been neglecting the renovation of the centre for years even though two members of the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW)—-Amar Kulwant Kaur and Bonny Sodhi—-have raised the issue at various forums in the past.

The centre seems to have remained only a “visiting spot” for officials of the Chandigarh Administration, who failed to initiate the renovation work despite several assurances.

Working women’s hostel: In 2009, to undertake the renovation work, the Administration had closed the working women’s hostel in Bal Bhawan, which accommodated 136 inmates. However, the authorities even failed to chalk out a plan for its renovation. There is a big demand for the hostel as a large number of girls come to the city for work. Due to a shortage of working women’s hostels in the city, there is a need to speed up its renovation. On an average, Bal Bhavan receives 30 to 35 queries for accommodation every month but the applicants are often left disappointed after they fail to get a satisfactory reply.

Hobby classes: At present, only a stitching class for four students is going on at the centre while dance, music, art and craft and computer classes have been discontinued in the absence of instructors. During a number of visits by the committee members, constituted by the ICCW, it was found that no instruments were available for the music and dance classes. In fact, there was nobody at the centre to give information about the staff appointed for the hobby classes. The centre, which was set up for the promotion of art and culture, seems to be defunct due to the lackadaisical attitude of the UT authorities.

Multipurpose auditorium: Recently, a senior citizens’ association held its annual meeting at the newly renovated multipurpose auditorium of Bal Bhawan. The senior citizens faced a tough time arranging for fans as the air-conditioner in the auditorium was non-functional.

One of the city’s oldest open theatre structure in the centre is also in a bad condition due to its poor maintenance by the authorities. The electric boards installed in the theatre were found to be broken and the concrete seating arrangements also needed renovation. Spacious playgrounds are also not being used for sports except on special occasions.

Creche: The staff of the crèche at the centre told the committee members that only two helpers had been appointed by the Social Welfare Department for 40 children. If one of the helpers is on leave, it becomes very difficult to handle the children belonging to different age-groups.

VITA booth: The authorities seem to be least concerned about the Vita booth. The allottee is serving snacks and food items for which no permission has been granted by the Administration. But even after a number of complaints, the authorities have turned a blind eye towards it and no action has been taken against the contractor.

”It is shocking to see the condition of the one of the most beautiful and well-planned structures in the city,” a special invitee to the executive committee of the ICCW.