Lucknow, the city of `nawabs and kebabs’, is also the city brimming with historical importance and Mughlai culture and cuisine. The capital of Uttar Pradesh houses numerous century-old structures that attract people from all over. It takes pride in its infrastructure constructed at the time of Mughals that still stand strong today such as the Rumi Darwaza, Imambara shrine, Safed Baradari, and it’s very own fort housing the Lucknow University.
Giving an uplift to century-old parks and monuments, District Magistrate of Lucknow, Mr. Abhishek Prakash has taken his first step to making the parks of the city family-friendly and safer for women. And he has begun with the historically relevant and extremely popular ‘Butler Park’.
FIRST OF ITS KIND PARK
Amongst the numerous initiatives taken under ‘Mission Shakti – the ongoing women empowerment campaign in Uttar Pradesh, the state is focusing here, as the name implies, on creating a better and secure environment for women. According to the latest developments, one of the biggest and most beautiful parks of Lucknow, ‘Butler Park’ will be converted into a first of its kind ‘Family Park’ with advanced amenities.
Situated near the posh Butler palace area of Lucknow, the park will witness an array of initiatives to enhance the levels of protection and well-being for the women in the city. Mr. Prakash and his team are planning to develop a string of amenities for the public.
SAFE AND COMFORTABLE HAVEN FOR WOMEN
Mr. Prakash stated numerous points that will be taken care of while developing the park. According to the new and advanced guidelines, allowing free entry within the premises, the park will be functional during 6-10 in the morning and 4-8 in the evening.
Moreover, to make the park women-friendly, the District Magistrate has approved the establishment of pink toilets, pink booths, and a sanitary pad vending machine so that women visiting the park do not face any issue of any kind and are able to enjoy themselves.
Special care will also be given for the children visiting the park with the addition of colorful swings and fitness buffs could have a refreshing open-air workout session, as well.
“With a pink toilet, pink booth, and a sanitary pad vending machine, the park would facilitate all the female visitors. The refurbished campus would not only encapsulate swings and slides for children but the proposals also include the construction of an open-air gym,” stated Mr. Prakash.
AESTHETICALLY PLEASING PARK
In an attempt to increase the park’s aesthetics and attract more visitors, the district administration is planning to encircle it with a garden of medicinal and aromatic plants along with a sparrow box for housing birds.
“Keeping in view the basic requirement of the visitors, the park would have an RO- equipped water cooler and a cafeteria managed by women,” says Mr. Prakash, an officer of the 2006 batch Uttar Pradesh cadre.
To keep girls and women safe and avoid ruckus and eve-teasing, the administration has decided to welcome only female visitors in the park. Male would be given entry only when accompanied by their families.
The park will be the first of its kind in the entire state as no other park in Uttar Pradesh has the number of facilities that are being made available in Butler Park. Mr. Prakash is diligently working on initiatives that are fulfilling the requirements of the state government’s ‘Mission Shakti’. Such developments indicate the government’s intentions to ensure the safety and security of women in public spaces.
