The sun beats down on Sabbavaram, a mandal in Anakapalli district of Andhra Pradesh, about 22 kilometres from Visakhapatnam. Here, under the shade of trees in a playground within an Anganwadi, a bunch of children in the age group of three to six years, clamber up a slanting wall made brightly-coloured repurposed tyres. Some others hang off a checkered climbing frame made of cut tyres.
This playground is one of the many being created under Project Play, the brainchild of 27-year-old IAS officer Dhatri Reddy, who is the Assistant Collector (UT) of Anakapalli district. The playgrounds are built mainly with recycled car and motorcycle tyres, encouraging kids to climb, slide and explore.
Five-year-old Tejaswini says the yellow tyre swing is her absolute favorite. “It’s so much fun; I can squeeze my body through the hole,” she giggles. “I love coming to the Anganwadi and play here every day,” she adds.
