NGO stopped from teaching in two parks seeks CM Devendra Fadnavis’s help

MUMBAI: Members of a city NGO have taken to social media to seek help from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis after the BMC allegedly stopped them from using two public parks in Santacruz to run a teaching programme for underprivileged children.
Volunteers of Angel Xpress Foundation have been gathering children and holding education and awareness classes in 16 localities from 2012.However, the volunteers said in recent times they have not been allowed to hold classes at Rotary Municipal Park and Muktanand Peace Park by BMC authorities. The classes held in Rotary Municipal Park were allegedly stalled following construction of tracks for a toy train in the premises. “The area where the toy train has come up was where we used to sit and teach the kids. After the construction, they refused to let us use the space, so we shifted the classes to Muktanand Peace Park in Santacruz,” said Anubha Sharma, founder of the initiative.
After shifting to the other park, though, they continued to face similar problems.
“Children and volunteers often find the lights and fans switched off in the park shelters. The authorities and caretakers keep the facilities on for those who meditate and do yoga but claim our classes disturb others. They told us the park is meant only for recreation and the classes do not comply with this rule,” said Sharma. “We had taken permission from the BMC commissioner before starting the initiative in 2012, but now the ward and the commissioner have not responded to us.”
Sharad Ughade, assistant municipal commissioner. H-West Ward, said, “There must have been complaints regarding the classes because of which the objections were raised. However, if that is not the case, we will look into the matter and take necessary action.”