Kalkaji gets back community space, new facilities added

The area MLA had set up his office in the building inviting public ire

Following demands and aiming to provide recreation facilities to residents of Kalkaji’s DDA Flats, Greater Kailash MLA has converted a part of a building in the locality into a community space. The building, which houses his office, now boasts a library, a recreation centre for the elderly and a citizen facilitation centre. The facility opened for public on July 10 after a formal ceremony attended by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia.

The library has hundreds of books on various subjects, including story books for children. (S Burmaula / HT Photo)

The MLA’s office opened in January this year at the ground floor of a building that was used by the senior citizens of the area for recreation. Many of them were upset with the move as they felt left out. They claimed that they will have no space to sit or gather as per their convenience. The senior citizens had been using the building for the past eight years and had formed a senior citizen organisation.

Gathering Resources

MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj said his office got in touch with a few NGOs who agreed to help by providing various facilities for the recreational centre. He said, “Bhartiya Akshara Social Organisation will provide books for the library. Another NGO provided racks for placing these books.”

Besides children, senior citizens also visit the place for recreation activities (S Burmaula / HT Photo)

A library

Bhardwaj said the library houses hundreds of books on various subjects, including story books. The children can visit the library and get the book issued for a week and after that they can exchange them for another one. Furniture has also been provided at the library, like benches for sitting. “Besides children, senior citizens can also visit the place for recreation activities,” said Bhardwaj.

Facilitation centre

A citizen facilitation centre has also been established here where residents can deposit the water and electricity bills. “The government departments have placed their drop boxes for residents to deposit the cheques. These will be collected by the officials after an interval of time,” said Vishnu Sinha, a volunteer. The centre will be run by volunteers from the locality who will also help in organising different camps with the help of the MLA’s office at regular intervals of time. For example, camps will be held for application for Aadhar cards, PAN cards and addition and correction in the voter list.

“We will also tie up with banks to organise weekly camps for giving out more information on educational loans for students,” said Bhardwaj. The centre will also facilitate in solving queries regarding passport for children.

The Nagrik Suvidha Kendra and library will be open from 10am to 1pm and 5pm to 7pm. Volunteers said the timings are flexible and can be changed according to needs.

A solar panel of 1.25KW capacity was also installed at the centre’s roof. (S Burmaula / HT Photo)

Tapping solar power

The centre boasts rooftop solar installation. A solar panel of 1.25KW capacity has also been set up at the terrace. With this, residents hope to reduce the power tariff by 60%.