Recreational facilities are not a matter of choice rather; it
is a part and parcel of a healthy leaving. Recreation has a positive impact on
health, and it lowers the risk of heart diseases by relieving people from
stress. A walk in the early morning prevents diabetes and reduces the risk of
obesity. Experts believe that a regular habit of walking boosts the immune
system.
The range of sports and recreation facilities’ offer should be very wide in
order for all social groups of the examined environment to have access to sports
and recreation facilities. Because, leisure offers an opportunity to foster
self-actualization; and it provides stimulation for work. But, it is worrying to
note that town or villages dwellers have little amenities to spend a sound
leisure time.
As I have experienced town life, I belong to a beautiful town of Gilgit called
Dashkin Khoudkisht. I would like to write about the lack of recreational
facilities in Dashkin Khoudkisht. It is one of the most remote areas of
District. It consists of 3000 households, with approximately. 10,000 of
population. It is worth to mention that here, this area with no single bed
government or private hospital, no single maternity home. Health of 10,000
people is in high risk becaus, Gilgit City is around 120 km distanced from this
town and about 20 km from district Astore. It means poeple needs to travel 120km
or 20km to get to hospitals to get first aids.
But today, I would like to throw light on the shortage of recreational
amenities. Like there is acute shortage of recreational facility has made
residents specially youth and school going students home-centric during their
free time. There’s no playground no public swimming pool. I’m sure, only 1% of
the people have TV in their home. Despite, hollow promises from different
political leaders to provide with 3G, 4G services but it’s been year’s area has
no internet facilities. Other than that, even electricity in town or villages is
seen like once in blue moon.
Schools mostly do not have playgrounds of their own and there is little
recreational facility for children in our poor rural setup. As a result,
development of their skills including, problem-solving, creative thinking,
intellectual and cognitive abilities, has been severely hampered almost without
early-age outdoor physical and recreational activities.
Few days ago the community elders of the area organized a meeting where they
decide to dig up a more than 7 decades of a filled with garbage swimming pool
again for their youth. A very next day, more than 150 people reached on the spot
and dig it to 7 feet down and 200 feet long. It shows that people are socially
matured and believe in collective social work. Now a big number of youth goes
there to learn swimming as an art and some think, it will help them to pass the
Pak Navy swimming test.
I can say it with great confidence that, the vulnerable residents mainly, the
youth of this remote area is quite active and senior people are wise enough to
meet their youth’s need, and make them ready to be good assets of future.
Through this medium, I’d like to take the attention to the concern authorities
and non-governmental organizations; Investment in the development of parks,
playgrounds, libraries, swimming pools, open spaces and other recreational
facilities are synonymous with investing in a healthy country. Effective steps
should be taken for ensuring recreational faculties for all.