At a time, when misuse of open spaces and setting up private clubs for a chosen few have become the order of the day, CBO in Santa Cruz has set up a sports club which is open to all.
The Santa Cruz club offers every sporting facility like cricket, tennis, table tennis and bars no one
MUMBAI: At a time, when misuse of open spaces and setting up private clubs for a chosen few have become the order of the day, a community based organisation (CBO) in Santa Cruz has set up a sports club which is open to all.
Owned by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the 6,000 sq mt Dharamweer Sambhaji ground at Khotwadi, popularly known as ‘One-rupee sports club’, was allotted to Triratna Prerana Mandal for maintenance over a month ago. An instant hit with residents and children, the CBO, unlike other clubs, charges every visitor a nominal amount of Re1 for enjoying sports like cricket, table tennis, volleyball and other sporting facilities.
“We want to keep the facility open to all as we don’t believe in the membership concept,” said Daya-nand Jadhav, executive president of Triratna. “The CBO comprises youngsters who reside in the locality. We are determined not to allow any form of commercialisation. Neither will public access ever be denied.”
Apart from a nominal entry fee, another unique feature about the club is that its indoor sports facility, which includes table tennis, dart and carrom, operate out of a defunct civic dispensary.
“Also, several sports apparatus have been created by recycling material we already had. For instance, the table tennis board has been made from plywood scrap. It is probably one-of-its-kind,” boasted VR Iyer, who has become famous as the ‘waste wizard’.
Iyer, an international tennis coach, who has trained national champions like Asif Ismail and Gaurav Natekar, also doubles up as the facility’s sports advisor.
“Everyday when I open the doors of the club, it feels great to see little children lined up outside, keen to get in and start playing,” he said, adding, that they had decided to keep a nominal entry fee to inculcate a sense of belonging among the children and to ensure they did not misuse the sporting equipment.
Explaining the concept behind the club, Nilesh Kelkar, one of the committee members and a former state level table tennis player, said that the main idea was to provide children with a place to play.
“Children, especially those who can not afford to go to expensive sports clubs, can come here and enjoy themselves,” he said. “If we spot a budding talent, the child will be nurtured and trained by us.”
“However, we need more funds and want to raise money for procuring more equipment for the children,” he added.
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