Udupi (The Hindu): To promote talent and skills of children, the Department of Women and Child Welfare has taken up the construction of an open air theatre at 70 cents of land on the Inspection Bungalow Road here.

This theatre will be able to accommodate about 600 to 700 children. The Bal Bhavan Society has already released Rs. 30.60 lakh for its construction. This includes Rs. 14.10 lakh for the construction of open air stage alone, while the remaining amount of Rs. 16.50 lakh has allotted for the development of the area surrounding the open air theatre.

Some equipment such as slides, swings and merry-go-rounds would be put for the children to play around the open air theatre. A small garden too will be set up around the area to enhance its ambience.

The construction of the open air theatre for children is expected to give a boost to the activities of the children. “As it is an open air theatre we will be able to put “shamiana” of the necessary size to hold activities. We will be able hold various children’s programmes especially during vacations,” said Gracy Gonsalves, Deputy Director of Women and Child Welfare.

The Bal Bhavan here is located on the land adjacent to the children’s open air theatre, whose construction is on. The 32 cents of land at the Bal Bhavan was found to be inadequate for the construction of the open air theatre. Hence, the open air theatre is being constructed on the adjacent land.

“The area at the Bal Bhavan is small for the construction of the open air theatre. Hence we are constructing it on the adjacent land. We will be able to hold bigger programmes for the children there,” Ms. Gonsalves said.

Presently, the Bal Bhavan attracts about 20 students on weekdays, which increasing to 50 during weekends. But during the vacations, summer camps and other camps, the children visiting the Bal Bhavan increases to nearly 200.

“The intention behind building the open air theatre is to facilitate all round development of children. Once better facilities are provided, more children will come. These facilities will also help in the honing of the talents of the children,” Ms. Gonsalves said.

Photo credit: The Hindu