For many women who feel uncomfortable working out with men at gyms, the government has gifted them an exclusive one on International Women's Day.
Patna divisional commissioner Anand Kishor inaugurated the gym at Gandhi Maidan located in front of the RBI building, south of the greens on Wednesday. There are already two gyms at the Maidan used by both sexes. However, there was demand for a women's-only gymnasium.
The committee, which looks after the maintenance of the Maidan, headed by the Patna divisional commissioner, has set up the gym costing Rs 18 lakh.
Sarika Kumari, a housewife and resident of Exhibition Road, expressed happiness over opening of the gym and said: "Whenever I used to come to the ground, the gym was mostly occupied by the men and there was no privacy as well. Now, with the opening of this exclusive gym, I can come here anytime in the morning and evening for exercise."
Anju Sharma, a resident of Bakerganj, who used the gym after the officials had left, said: "The gym should be properly maintained and the security guards should be deployed round-the-clock so that men do not enter."
Compared to private gyms which charge a hefty membership money, the charges have been kept nominal here. The women have to pay Rs 100 as a registration charge and there will be a monthly charge of Rs 100.
At present, one gym is functional in front of the SBI building on the west side of the ground and another in front of Mona theatre, east of the Maidan. Like the two other gyms, this too has no free weights and all the equipment are fixed. The gym can cater to at least 20 women at a time and there are 15 equipments installed.
After inaugurating the gym, Kishor said open gyms will be set up at all prominent parks in Patna in a phase-wise manner.
"We are committed to provide a healthy environment to residents of Patna. With that aim in mind, we have taken this initiative to set up open gyms in most of the prominent parks. I will ensure that these gyms are properly maintained and private security guards are deployed here for the safety of the women," Kishor said.
The women's gym will be functional on all seven days and it will be open in two shifts, 5.30am to 8.30am and from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.
Kishor said that in the past few months, several beautification work has been carried out at Gandhi Maidan, including construction of two green toilets. The district administration has already spent Rs 8.5 crore on the beautification of the ground spread across 62 acres and several work has already been done. Recently, eight new gates have been constructed with watch towers.
Art, culture and youth affairs minister Shiv Chandra Ram was also present during the inauguration of the open gym and he praised the initiative of the divisional commissioner.
