Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone for Maharashtra’s first Divyang Park in Nagpur on Sunday. The park, which is being developed at a cost of Rs 10 crore, is aimed at providing facilities for people with disabilities, or “Divyangs” as they are known in India.
The park will be spread over an area of four acres and will have several amenities designed specifically for the needs of Divyangs. These include wheelchair-accessible paths, special playground equipment, and sensory gardens. The park will also have a cafeteria, an amphitheatre, and a meditation centre.
Speaking at the event, Gadkari emphasised the importance of providing equal opportunities to Divyangs and stated that the park was a step towards achieving that goal. He also expressed his hope that the park would become a model for other cities in India to follow.
The development of the park is being carried out by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and is expected to be completed within the next 12 months. The NMC has also stated that it plans to set up similar parks in other parts of the city in the future.
The park has received praise from several quarters, including disability rights activists and organisations. They have hailed the move as a positive step towards creating a more inclusive society and have called for more such initiatives to be undertaken across the country.
In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the needs of people with disabilities in India, with the government and private organisations taking steps to make public spaces and facilities more accessible. However, there is still a long way to go, with many challenges facing Divyangs in areas such as education, employment, and healthcare.
The development of the Divyang Park is expected to serve as an example for other cities in India to follow, and could help to create a more inclusive society for people with disabilities. The park is also expected to serve as a recreational space for the wider community, and could become a popular attraction in Nagpur.