KOZHIKODE: The inordinate delay in completion of the Gender Park, an innovative initiative to bring overall development projects of women on a single platform, has irked NISA, Progressive Muslim Women’s Forum. On Monday, they submitted a petition to the Administrative Reforms Commission for ending the deadlock. In a letter, they stated that the Park announced by finance minister Thomas Isaac in 2011 aimed at uplifting women in society. The then President Pranab Mukherjee opened it on February 27, 2016.
However, currently, there are only buildings along with a security and two lady staff for namesake. They also cite the plight of the Gandhi Memorial Museum and Amphitheatre. The old building where Gandhiji used to stay while he visited the city, refurbished and made into a museum. The work on the amphitheatre which can house approximately 500 people is also not finished.
When the forum contacted the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society, they informed them that the completed buildings were handed over to the government. There are four smart classrooms, which remain closed due to lack of electrification. Gender Park includes facilities like cultural conglomeration, guest house, library, offices of Kudumbashree, Women’s Commission, Women Development Corporation and other women-related departments. “Around Rs 6 crore was allotted in the 2012-13 state budget and a vast amount of money spent on the gender fest held from March 8 to 10 in 2012. The antisocials are now damaging its assets.
