Olympian Mayookha Johny's panchayat in Kozhikode plans to buy land for playground

Koorachund, a hilly panchayat in Kozhikode, has dealt with a paradox all these years. It is home to some great names and young sports talents: Olympian long jumper Mayookha Johny, Kerala footballer Arjun Balakrishnan, and athlete Alka Shinoj. However, this panchayat, which produces players, doesn't have a playground. The local body is set to have one.

Koorachund panchayat is scouting for land to build a playground. Given the local body's skeletal-thin resources, authorities plan to spend a sizable sum. The move stems from a collective concern for the region's lack of recreational spaces and its long-term impact on the youth.

"This isn’t just about adding another facility to the panchayat’s checklist. We have sports clubs, but they offer only basic amenities. Many young athletes travel long distances to train. As far as we know, our area has no proper public ground. So, for people of all ages to come together, we decided we need a playground," says Koorachundu panchayat president O K Ammed.

The purpose goes beyond just providing a sports facility. "These days, the use of drugs among young people is rising; we realised that simply warning them (of the problems of drug abuse) is not enough. As a local body, it’s our responsibility to give them better choices. We must nurture their mental and physical health," adds Ammed.

The initiative is special to this panchayat, which has produced several athletes. Alka, a school student, currently trains in a neighbouring panchayat and on the school ground. "She requires a synthetic track to train. It's the need of our area. Many athletes like her would benefit if such infrastructure were developed locally," says her mother, Jithina Shinoj.

However, some believe the current plan may fail to meet professional training needs. “With the current budget, the panchayat can probably acquire just about an acre of land,” says K M Peter, a coach at the Georgian Sports Academy. "That may be useful for community recreation, but for serious athletes like Alka, we need at least a 200 or 400 metre track. Authorities should be thinking in that direction too," he says. The panchayat has issued a tender to purchase land and allocated around ₹60 lakh, which may be revised based on the project requirements.