As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) drive, Larsen & Toubro has helped transform the Matoshree Meenatai Thakre Shilpgram Park at Mumbai’s Jogeshwari into the city’s first disabled-friendly recreational facility.
Owned by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), the park is spread over 5.5 hectares and was opened to the public in 2018.
L&T, in collaboration with its NGO partner ‘Project Mumbai’ and MCGM, has transformed it into the city’s first inclusive park by funding the construction of ramps at the entry-exit points and different parts of the park, thus making it accessible to people on wheelchairs.
L&T has also helped convert the children’s play area into an inclusive facility where all children including specially-abled can play. The company has installed equipment for special needs, and has recarpeted the surface with rubber matting of approximately 4000 sq ft. This provides cushioning and shock absorption, reducing the risk of injuries in case of falls, thus making it safer for everyone – particularly children with disabilities.
The new facilities were inaugurated by Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Minister for Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation – Maharashtra, along with Meena Subrahmanyan, president of the L&T-funded non-profit Prayas Trust.
Prayas Trust embodies the collective endeavour of the wives of L&T employees and female staffers to address the needs of the underprivileged across five distinct areas: healthcare, childcare, education, women’s empowerment, and water & sanitation.
Subrahmanyan said: “Transforming one of the best and most iconic parks of Mumbai into a unified and accessible space for everyone is an important step towards an inclusive society.”
