Mumbai: Child rights body asks BMC is kids safe in city parks

The Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has taken suo motu cognisance of the death of a six-year-old after she fell off a pony at Cooperage garden a couple of weeks ago. It has asked BMC's garden department to submit a list of parameters as per which horse-riding is allowed in the garden and what safety measures are taken. The commission has sought this information regarding all children's parks in the city.

Horse and pony rides at Cooperage garden in Churchgate are a regular feature. File Pic

Little lives at risk
On November 5, Janhavi Sharma died due to multiple head injuries after being flung off the pony she was riding at the Churchgate garden. The commission has criticised the civic body for its poor management of all children's parks in the city. It said BMC's responsibility didn't end at providing space for such parks and that it also had to ensure children's safety. Secretary of the commission A N Tripathi said, "It is really sad to see that this is what we are offering our children. The tragic incident put the focus on Cooperage garden. But the situation at other children's parks is equally bad, putting little lives at risk. News reports on conditions of this garden as well as other parks, following the little girl's death, have stunned the commission."

"BMC had been charging horse owners a fee to allow them to operate inside Cooperage garden. It was completely their responsibility to keep track of the goings-on there. The civic body must bring in regulations to maintain these parks to avoid accidents in the future," he added. The garden department has been given a week to submit the list of parameters and safety measures, or lack thereof, after which the commission will make the final recommendation.

Chairperson of the commission Pravin Ghuge said, "Our aim is to try and ensure introduction of regulations for the way these parks are maintained by the civic body. Uniformity is required to ensure children's safety."

Cops pulled up too
The commission also pulled up the police for allowing horse-riding in Cooperage garden. "The police took action only after the incident. We want to know what they have done in the past to stop horse-riding there," said Tripathi, asking the police too to submit a report on it. While the police had arrested the horse handler in question after the November 5 incident, there were some who had blamed the uneven pathway in the garden for the mishap. Sahebrao Gavit, deputy superintendent of gardens at BMC, said, "Following the commission's directives, we are compiling the information it has sought. We will submit a written report in a week."

Nov 5 The day the girl was flung off the pony at the garden

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