NEW DELHI: Broken windows, decaying furniture, wrecked gymnasium equipment—this might sound like a scene from a disaster film, but this is the state of community centres in Palika Dhams (societies) under the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). At a time when the Central government is making huge efforts to push schemes for social welfare, NDMC seems to be light years behind.
“I have approached NDMC several times, but have got only verbal assurances. No one even comes to look at this facility,” said Raju Dakolia, Resident Welfare Association (RWA) president of Palika Dham set up in 1987 near the Gol Dak Khana in Central Delhi. The Palika Dham here has 400 residents. Raj Kumar, a bodybuilder and Mr Delhi in 2000, bemoans that no sports equipment has arrived at the centre in the last four years.
NDMC runs 14 community centres under Palika Dhams in Lutyens’ Delhi. They were built to promote sports and cultural activities in residential complexes. Three of them have been allotted to RWAs, and are well-maintained. Of the 11 others, which are under the civic body, one is closed and 10, such as Devi Prasad Sadan, Palika Niwas and others, are in a dilapidated condition.
Raju Pal, vice-president of the RWA of Devi Prasad Sadan on Hailey Lane said: “We had a treadmill, a few dumbbells and two carom board sets. The treadmill broke down within a year and NDMC took away the remaining equipment. Not a single official has come here for the last three years.”
However, NDMC blames the mess on the rainbow demands of residents. “RWAs should decide what they want. Whenever we try to install any equipment, different interest groups protest,” said A K Singh, director of NDMC’s Welfare Department. However, NDMC plans to spend `40 lakh on maintaining the centres in 2016-2017.