In absence of natural picnic spots, schools turn to pvt resorts

In the absence of picnic spots in Jammu, schools are moving towards private resorts in and around Jammu. Gone are the days when schoolchildren went for picnic to Jhajjar Kotli and Mansar, where they enjoyed a natural lush green environment and learnt many things about nature.
In absence of natural picnic spots, schools turn to pvt resortsNow the meaning of picnic for them is to go to Country Inn on the Jammu-Katra road or Coral Resort at Madhopur in Punjab, where loud DJ and continental food are the only source of entertainment for them after paying a hefty amount to the school authorities.
The school authorities claimed that there was hardly any place left in Jammu where they could plan a safe and secure picnic for their students.
They said Jhajjar Kotli was in a poor condition these days, Mansar did not have a good road, Patnitop was quite far and the road condition after Udhampur was no good.
After the four-laning of the Jammu-Udhampur highway, Jhajjar Kotli has been ignored by the administration. Road connectivity from Vijaypur to Samba is not less than a nightmare for travellers and the condition of the road from Udhampur to Patnitop was the same.
Te Tourism Department claimed that there were plenty of picnic spots in Jammu where schools could bring the students for picnic.
“Thereare a number of picnic spots in Jammu and one has recently been inaugurated on the bank of the Tawi. Besides, we have Patnitop, Sanasar, Akhnoor and many more,” said RK Verma, Director Tourism, Jammu.
“I think that the trend of going to a private resort for picnic is not good for children. The real meaning of a picnic is to be with nature, which a private resort can never provide,” he said.
“If any school does not find any good picnic spot in Jammu, it can contact my office anytime. We will give plenty of options in the natural beauty of Jammu,” he added.
A school charges between Rs 500 and Rs 1,500 for one-day picnic at such resorts. It provide transport, breakfast and lunch to students in the same resort under a package fixed with the resort. To get some additional beverage during the picnic, a student has to pay the amount as per the rates at the resort.
“Private schools always plan the picnic at a private resort. A picnic means an additional expenditure of at least Rs 5,000 for the parents,” said Mamta Sharma, whose child studied at a private school in Jammu.
“It becomes difficult for us to stop our ward from going on a picnic. What is the fun of a picnic at private resorts? Schools have made business of picnics in tie-up with some expensive resorts,” she said.

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