Vyayamshalas in poor condition, CM squad conducts inspections

Mukesh Tandon
Tribune News Service
Panipat, July 31
During a surprise visit by a team of the Ayush Department, CID and CM flying squad to the vyayamshalas at Dadlana, Rerkalan, Bal Jatan, Kavi and Dharamgarh villages on Tuesday and Jorasikhas, Biholi, Shimla Gujran, Matroli, Dikadla and Jeetgarh villages on Wednesday, it was revealed that the exercise centres there were in a poor state.

This was the third inspection by the joint team. Earlier, they had carried out inspections at Ganjbar, Badoli and Khotpura villages and found the vyayamshalas there in a bad state.
The state government had opened vyayamshalas in villages of all districts to provide better health facilities to villagers and youths in the state. The government had also installed open gyms and constructed sheds, boundary walls, rooms and toilets at these vyayamshalas before handing these over to the Ayush Department, which was given the responsiblilty of running these. But the latest surprise inspections have revealed that the maximum vyayamshalas remain neglected. Amid the lack of attention from the authorities concerned the team found that the centres had overgrown grass, broken floors, non-functional toilets and no potable water or power facilities.
According to reports, the track and ground at the Rerkalan village vyayamshala was found in a poor condition over which weed and grass was overgrown, the floor under the yoga shed was broken, the condition of toilets was unhygienic, there was no potable water, power or gym either. The team also found that villagers did not frequent the vyayamshala as it was around 3 km away.
Similarly, in Bal Jatan village, the condition of the ground and track was in good, but the toilets were in a poor state, there was no power connection and no gym or park facility. There was also no yoga trainer appointed there.
In Kavi village, the condition of the ground and track was poor, wild weed and grass had grown everywhere, the floor was broken, the condition of the toilets was bad and there was no power connection, gym or park there. It was found that no villagers came to the vyayamshala and the main gate was broken due to which villagers often let their cattle in for grazing. Notably, Kavi village is the native village of Minister Mahipal Dhanda.
Similarly in Dharamgarh village, the condition of the vyayamshala was deplorable as the ground and track were broken, weed and grass grew everywhere, the condition of the toilets was found to be poor and there was no power or potable water. However, the centre had a gym and it was revealed that around 50 villagers came here daily in the mornings and evenings.
The team has prepared a report of its observations and sent it to the government for further action.
District Ayurveda Officer Dr Sanjay Rajpal said these vyayamshalas had been constructed by the Panchayati Raj Department in 2018-19. Dr Rajpal said 42 vyayamshalas were built and 34 yoga trainers were appointed for these centres in the district in August 2022. The condition of the maximum number of these centres was found not good during the inspection, and the main reason behind the less footfall was the distance of the vyayamshalas, around 2-3 km, from villages or residential areas, he said. It was the duty of the village panchayat to maintain these vyayamshalas, he added.