Thrissur: The residents of Nandipulam in Thrissur have decided that their children deserve a childhood filled with games and friendships, not confined to mobile screens. Concerned about children straying towards substance abuse and social isolation, the community came together with a dream to build a playground.

Until now, the biggest hurdle was lack of a suitable play area. But when everyone pitched in, they managed to raise an impressive ₹44 lakh. Around 200 families are actively supporting the project; some households have even contributed up to ₹3 lakh each.

The proposed playground will include a track, gym, walking paths, and courts for football, volleyball, and badminton. But the community’s vision extends beyond sports. They also plan to create spaces for the elderly to gather and socialise, and even a reading room, ensuring no one feels left out.

The playground identified for the purpose will come up on 53 cents of land. Including registration costs, acquiring the land alone will cost around ₹53 lakh. Another ₹50 lakh will be needed to develop all the planned facilities. Altogether, this dream project will require about ₹1 crore.

The initiative was undertaken by the local cultural forum,‘Mizhi Samskarika Vedi’, and has stepped forward with hope and confidence. A 42-member land acquisition committee has already been formed to steer the initiative. At present, even the local Nandipulam UP School does not have a playground.