Almost two years after making the announcement, the
South Delhi Municipal Corporation has failed to re-name its science
museum in honour of the December 16 gang-rape victim or carry out the
promised renovations.
On February 6, 2013, the civic
body had announced that its Children Resource Centre Museum in R.K.
Puram will be re-named “Brave Heart Museum” and Rs.20 crore will be
allotted for its renovation. Members of the victim’s family were present
during the announcement that day.
But a visit to
the centre on Tuesday showed that nothing had changed — the name
displayed outside was still the same and the interiors still housed the
years-old exhibits.
SDMC Standing Committee
chairperson Subhash Arya said the name had been changed on paper as the
House had cleared the same. “I will have to check why the new name has
not been displayed,” he said.
The initial deadline for renovations was March 31. But Mr. Arya admitted that the work had not started so far.
“We
have written to the ONGC for funding under their corporate social
responsibility initiative. We hope to start the renovation soon,” he
said.
Centre curator Dhruv Prasad Soni said the
museum was yet to catch up with the rest. The centre was started in 1985
and included syllabus-based exhibits for primary school students.
“There
hasn’t been any massive renovation over the years. We are yet to get
the latest display technology and information boards. But talks are on
with the National Council of Science Museums for improving it,” said Mr.
Soni.
SDMC Leader of Opposition Farhad Suri said
the BJP-led corporation had “taken advantage of a tragedy, but failed to
fulfil its promise”.
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