Where will our children play? It is a simple question, but increasingly difficult to answer in most towns of Nagaland. Our neighbourhoods have grown without much thought for public space. Houses are built close to one another, vacant plots disappear behind walls and whatever open ground once existed is gradually occupied by buildings. In Mokokchung, as in many other towns, children often have nowhere nearby to run, kick a ball, ride a bicycle or simply play with friends.
This should not be dismissed as a minor inconvenience. Children need physical activity as a basic part of growing up. They do not need playgrounds because every child is expected to become a sportsperson. They need them because running, jumping, climbing and playing help develop motor skills, coordination and physical fitness. Games also teach children how to cooperate, compete, handle disappointment and resolve disagreements. Many of the friendships and memories that stay with us into adulthood are made on playgrounds.
At a time when excessive screen time is a growing concern, denying children safe outdoor spaces makes the problem worse. A child cannot be expected to choose outdoor activity when there is nowhere safe to play.
Mokokchung’s Imkongmeren Sports Complex remains one of the most accessible public playing grounds, but its condition is hardly suitable for children. The ground becomes hard and dusty in dry weather and muddy during rain. There is no proper drainage system, while the use of stone dust for levelling the ground raises safety concerns. The open drains around the complex add another hazard. Children playing there can easily sustain injuries, and a serious accident could expose the authorities to legal liability.
We cannot address children’s increasing screen time simply by telling them to put their phones away. Children need alternatives, and that means giving them safe and accessible places to play, run and spend time outdoors.
This needs to be reflected in how our towns are planned. Parks, playgrounds and even small open spaces within neighbourhoods should be considered essential public facilities, alongside roads and other basic infrastructure. Not every neighbourhood needs a stadium. Even modest, safe and properly maintained spaces can make a difference.
Open spaces should therefore be seen not simply as recreational facilities, but as an important part of child welfare, public health and the wellbeing of the community. This responsibility cannot rest solely with the government. The community, too, must step up.
A town should not be measured only by the roads it builds or the buildings it adds, but also by the spaces it preserves for its children. If we cannot find room for children to play, we need to seriously ask what kind of town we are building.