Culture fest at kids’ cost

Culture fest at kids’ cost

Children’s feelings are the last thing on their minds as Kannada activists, in the name of Rajyotsava celebrations, remove and dump play structures in the corners of a BBMP park in Sanjaynagar

M K Ashoka
Posted On Monday, November 17, 2008

Come November every year, self-proclaimed champions of Kannada compete with one another in organising Rajyotsava celebrations on a grand scale. But one such group’s zeal seems to have blinded it to the rights of other sections — in this case, children.

In converting a BBMP playground in RMV Extension of Sanjaynagar into a ‘celebration’ zone, activists of Vinayaka Geleyara Balaga have removed all the play structures — merry-go-rounds, see-saws, swings, slides, rocking horses and climbers — and dumped them at two ends of the park, much to the chagrin of the children of the area.

“Ironically, the work of removing the play structures this year started on Nov 14, Children’s Day. The entire area has been taken over, the children’s feelings be damned. We don’t know how BBMP can give permission for such functions. Is there no other place available in the entire RMV Extension?,” a perturbed senior citizen asked. “I am a Kannadiga too, but this is not the way to promote our culture. This is hooliganism and the officials who are letting this happen should be punished,” he added.

Ex-corporator’s clout
According to some residents of the area, the function is being organised at the behest of an ex-corporator with ties to the JDS. Though the area falls in the constituency of industries minister Katta Subramanya Naidu, the ex-corporator’s followers wield a lot of clout in the locality and no one dares taken them on.

If it’s the children who’ve been robbed of their play zone, the 150-bed RMV Hospital, located next to the park, has to put up with the nuisance of loud music belted out by hired ‘orchestras’ for a period of at least ten days. As one resident remarked, “God help the patients in the hospital’s ICU.”

Once the celebrations wind up, it takes at least six months for the play structures to be fixed back in their original places. Not surprisingly, some of the items end up being pilfered, adding to BBMP’s renovation costs.

All this goes on, needless to say, in the name of Kannada and if anyone objects, he is branded as ‘anti-Kannada’ and targeted. In the event, the authorities prefer to turn a blind eye to the lawless goings-on.

When contacted in this connection, Ramesh, Assistant Engineer of the area, pleaded ignorance about the removal of the play structures from the park.

He maintained that no one had approached him for permission to hold a Rajyotsava function inside the park. “Tomorrow we will inspect the spot,” he said.