Karnataka Governor Inaugurates State’s First Exclusive Park
Karnataka Governor Inaugurates State’s First Exclusive Park for Disabled Children in Bengaluru
Developed by Mindtree and Bal Bhavan, the park will benefit an estimated 2.4 lakh children with special needs
Bengaluru (India) — June 25, 2022 — An exclusive play park for disabled children was inaugurated today by the Honorable Governor of Karnataka, Mr. Thaawarchand Gehlot.
Developed by technology consulting and services company Mindtree in collaboration with Bal Bhavan and Smart City, the park will benefit an estimated 2.4 lakh children with special needs because of cerebral palsy, autism, and other disabilities. Spread over one acre of land provided by the Government of Karnataka within Jawahar Bal Bhavan at Cubbon Park, the park — the first of its type in the state — was built at a cost of approximately INR 3 crore under the guidance of health and child development experts, and award-winning design firms.
The park provides a safe, inclusive, and physiotherapeutic place where children with multiple forms of disabilit ies can play unhindered by their mobility aids or the risk of accidents, thus improving their agility, wellness, and social skills through community and multisensory experiences. Designed in the shape of a turtle, the park consis ts of different zones for a wide range of physical, mental, therapeutic, leisure, and touch-and-feel activities.
Mr. Thaawarchand Gehlot, Honorable Governor of Karnataka, said, “It is a social and moral imperative to devel op inclusive and accessible playgrounds for disabled children. These children and their parents already struggle with numerous obstacles, biases and misconceptions in their effort to lead full and capable lives. Instead of add ing to their problems, parks must become a part of the solution by enabling children with disabilities to gain fr om free and unstructured play just like other children. I congratulate Mindtree, Bal Bhavan and everyone ass ociated with this inspiring initiative for taking the lead in addressing a vital need of disabled children. This ex clusive park will provide them with an opportunity to feel happier, healthier and more connected with one ano ther and the world around them, thus developing critical cognitive, emotional and social skills.”
Mr. Debashis Chatterjee, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Mindtree, said, “Green spaces for tho se who access them differently are an important step towards accepting diversity as a part of life. The launch of this adapted park marks the culmination of a year-long effort to offer children with special needs a place and an opportunity to experience and enjoy an important part of their childhood in a safe, inclusive, and caring env ironment. Time well spent in a park is known to make a perceptible difference in the behavior of special children. We hope this park will help take some of the stress away from such children as well as their parents. We are grat eful to the Karnataka Government for helping us with the land and to our partners for their expert guidance in making this park a reality.”
Ms. Chikkamma Basavaraj, Chairperson, Bal Bhavan Society, said, “We thank the Government of Karnataka and Mindtree for making us a part of this exemplary initiative. Parks are integral to the health and happiness of cit ies, and an important part of local communities. They are successful only when they can be used by people of all abilities. This park will enable disabled children to not only experience the simple joys of playing, exploring, and building friendships, but also learn new skills, develop a sense of identity, and improve their self-esteem and con fidence. It will also help others around them develop new perspectives and empathy by learning to appreciate and accept differences.”
The design of the park ensures seamless movement across various play zones. Tactile pathways make it easier for visually challenged children to navigate their way around the park. To mitigate injuries from falls, all playing surfaces are made of a synthetic, non-toxic, and skid-proof rubber called EPDM (ethylene propylene diene mon omer). The park infrastructure has been audited for accessibility by The Association of People with Disability (A PD) with the participation of disabled children. Most of the play equipment in the park is made in India.
Bal Bhavan_Governor unveiling the plaque – Honorable Governor of Karnataka, Mr. Thaawarchand Gehlot unv eiling the plaque of Karnataka’s first exclusive park for disabled children developed by Mindtree
Bal Bhavan_Dignitaries on the dais – Honorable Governor of Karnataka, Mr. Thaawarchand Gehlot and Mindtree CEO & MD, Mr. Debashis Chatterjee on the stage with other dignitaries at the launch of Karnataka’s first exclusi ve park for disabled children
About Mindtree
Mindtree [NSE: MINDTREE] is a global technology consulting and services company that enables enterprises acr oss industries to drive superior competitive advantage, customer experiences and business outcomes by harne s sing digital and cloud technologies. A digital transformation partner to more than 275 of the world’s most pion eering enterprises, Mindtree brings extensive domain, technology and consulting expertise to help reimagine bu siness models, accelerate innovation and maximize growth. As a socially and environmentally responsible busi ness, Mindtree is focused on growth as well as sustainability in building long-term stakeholder value. Powered by more than 35,000 talented and entrepreneurial professionals across 24 countries, Mindtree — a Larsen & To ubro Group company — is consistently recognized among the best places to work. For more, please visit www.mindtree.com or @Mindtree_Ltd.
For more information, contact: media@mindtree.com
