00:06In Bhubaneshwar, a park specially created for differently abled children is raising difficult
00:11questions about neglect, access and accountability. Opened in May 2022 in the Shaheed Nagar area,
00:19Sensory Park was designed as an independent recreational space for differently abled and
00:23physically challenged children. Today, residents point to locked gates, damaged equipment, overgrown
00:31bushes, rusted swings and safety concerns.
00:36We thought this Sensory Park would be a blessing for children with disabilities. But most of
00:43the time, the equipment are broken even before being used. Not only this park, most Bhubaneshwar
00:49parks are not in good condition and therefore cannot be used by people. Crores are being
00:53spent by the government to develop these spaces. If these are not maintained properly, people
00:59will not be able to use these facilities. So authorities need to pay attention to this.
01:04The story of Sensory Park is also the story of urban childhood. As cities expand, playgrounds
01:10are shrinking. For many children living in apartments and dense neighbourhoods, public parks and kindergartens
01:16are among the few remaining places for outdoor play. But across Odisha's major cities, Bhubaneshwar,
01:22Puri, Barampur and Katak, residents, parents and officials are confronting a familiar list
01:28of complaints. Broken awnings, cracked slides, rusted equipment, poor lighting, unsafe surroundings
01:38and growing anxiety among parents. According to official information, Bhubaneshwar has around
01:44200 parks. Parks about 2.5 acres are maintained by Bhubaneshwar Development Authority or BDA
01:50while 184 parks fall under Bhubaneshwar Municipal Corporation or BNC.
01:59Parks are an urgent need in cities. Especially for children living in apartments, parks are the
02:06only place where they can play in open air for some time. Playing is essential for physical
02:12and mental development of children. But due to lack of proper maintenance of the equipment installed
02:18in the parks, we have to keep an eye on the children while they are playing. Residents and
02:23health experts increasingly warn that shrinking play spaces come at a larger social cost. At a time
02:29when children are spending more hours on phones, computers and screens, safe outdoor spaces are becoming
02:35even more important. Since children these days are always sitting at home playing on mobile phones
02:45and computers, they do not develop physically and mentally and they fall prey to various diseases.
02:51Obesity is seen among many children due to lack of physical exercise and games. Providing a safe space
02:57for children to play is the responsibility of the society. In Puri, concerns extend beyond neighbourhood
03:05parks. Under the Mukta scheme, crores of rupees were sanctioned for improving parks and kindergartens.
03:11But residents say several spaces remain abandoned or poorly maintained.
03:17At Chakratir beach, infrastructure including changing rooms, toilets, gym equipment and children's
03:23facilities has reportedly fallen into despair. Local voices question whether public projects are
03:29translating into public benefit. Most of the parks in Puri city are now abandoned. Some incomplete
03:37officials are responsible for it and projects that are being done should be planned in such a way that
03:42they will benefit the people. Otherwise, even if the project worth crores of rupees will not be benefit of
03:48the people. We are prioritizing park maintenance. More staff will be appointed and park cleanliness will
03:57be maintained. We have decided to reopen the parks after repairing the infrastructure including play
04:03equipment. I am sure the problems in the parks will be addressed within the next month.
04:08In Bharampur, residents visiting parks continue to demand better lighting, cleanliness, safer play equipment
04:14equipment and regular maintenance. And in Katak, concerns around drinking water, sanitation and basic
04:20amenities in city parks reached the Odessa High Court. The court expressed dissatisfaction over reported
04:28conditions and directed officials to address deficiencies and submit compliance reports. Officials acknowledge
04:35challenges. While there are more than 100 parks in the city, the CMC lacks a sufficient budget to maintain them.
04:46We will still work to complete equipment the remaining parks where there are complaints and address
04:52maintenance issues. Across cities, the details may differ. A locked sensory park in Bhubaneshwar,
05:00abandoned park infrastructure in Puri, maintenance concerns in Bharampur and court scrutiny in Qatar.
05:11The largest story remains the same. In rapidly growing cities, childhood public spaces are struggling
05:17to survive and the deepest irony may still belong to Sensory Park. A park built to create safety for
05:26children facing barriers now stands as a reminder of how easily public purpose can fade without sustained
05:32care. For Odisha cities, the question is no longer whether children need parks. The question is,
05:38is who is protecting the last playground?
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