Back Ground: Theatre in India shares a long relation dating back to about 5000 years. The earliest form of theatre being the Sanskrit theatre, “Bharata’s Natya Shastra” was one of the earliest plays enacted in India. It was influenced as deeply as our food, art and language. From being a combined form of narrating a story with the help of acting, dancing and reciting; it has branched out from expansive and costly stage theatres to bare minimum street play. Street theater /Play perform in outdoor public spaces without a specific and paying audience, but cover a fairly large group. These spaces can be anywhere, including market, school, health center and street corners. The actors who perform the street theatre may be people lacking means for a big hall and proper audience, organized groups that want to send across a social message or to advertise their mainstream work. What is Street Theatre/ Street Play/Nuked Natak Street theatre/Street Play is a theatrical presentation performed in a public space that does not have a paying audience. Street theatre is extremely useful for raising awareness because its informal nature provokes the audience to discuss difficult and controversial issues like various health education and social mobilization etc. In addition, because street play is free of charge and takes place in a public area people of all socio-economic backgrounds have the opportunity to enjoy, benefit, and contribute to it. It has maximum possibility of involving community people for understanding the issues that they normally confront. Why Street Play/ Nukar Natak In recent years, street play has picked up pace and has acquired an image of a more moral nature with just the right kind of fun. Better known as ‘NUKAR NATAK’ today, is perhaps the best way to connect with the common people and the youth. These are much intimate, brief, direct and address the social and cultural message head-on with the help of drama. The catchy phrases and songs, crisp script, humor and loudness help in making a long lasting and powerful effect on viewers. These plays if targeted towards youth can really stir up emotions, create awareness and lead the way towards positive change. Nukar Nataks are an important tool in creating awareness, empowering the youth and utilizing our right to freedom of speech and expression positively. This colloquial form of drama connects with the youth instantly. The lack of properness and formal atmosphere adds to its appeal and gives it a real lifelike look. It not only enlightens people but gives us, the citizens to voice our opinion too. These plays have similar impact like Mark Antony’s speech on Julius Caesar’s death. The stirred up crowd and their displayed and fuelled up emotions may be considered parallel, plays having to do more with human mind. Similar to the results of Mark Antony’s funeral speech, these plays have the strength to start a social revolution. This enthusiasm if used in the correct manner can lead to drastic changes in our society. Changes we wish for. Changes that make us blame the government for mishandling the affairs concerning our nation. It’s all up in our head-right in our brain- the change. Changes in society does not mean only having enough capital for putting up street lights for women’s safety but it is about thinking or better, having the attitude of not adding to the problem and helping people mitigating the situation. Change in society comes with the change in the mindset of the people and street plays can rightly achieve that goal. It is not out of place to mention that for reaching out to people has a great deal of impact using various traditional communication media as strongly emphasis by the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Govt. of India articulated in the NRDWP guideline for motivating people to act for securing their water future. On ground:- Road shows - Street Plays • Road shows have been carried out across different villages over a period. • The events included multimedia presentations and Question-and-Answer sessions. • Short films were shown on mobile vans. • A central teams have been working on road shows. • Street Plays had organized. Advantage Road shows / Street Plays? • Traditional Medium of social mobilization/ social marketing. • Road show events attract hundreds of villagers. • This form of medium is effective as it engages the villagers directly. • This colloquial form of drama connects with the youth instantly. • Participation is further incentivised via quizzes/contests • It reaches to a vast population but involves less expenditure Place of Action: 3 shows in a Gram Panchayet had done preferably at 1. Near Health Center. 2. Near School/ Anwanwadi Center ( Primary/ High School) 3. Near Panchayet Office. 4. Near Market Place Messages were delivered by Street Play: 1. Safe handling & storage of water. 2. Usage of water only from safe source. 3. Importance of Hand wash. 4. Water conservation. 5. Operation & maintenance of water sources. 6. Shift from single source dependency to use of multiple water sources. 7. Construction of Sanitary latrine and use. 8. Necessity of Water testing On Road Activity: 1. Road shows were carried out across different villages over a period. 2. Tableau with Audio & PA system displaying IEC materials. 3. Street Play. 4. Magic Show/ Folk performance i.e. ‘Baul Song’. 5. Distribution of IEC materials like leaflet etc. 6. Quiz Competition and award distribution. SUMMARY OF DISTRICT WISE STREET PLAY DONE Sl no. District No of Block coverd No of G P coverd No of Street play done 1 Howrah 13 nos 119 nos 358 nos 2 Nadia 11 nos 112 nos 336 nos 3 Darjeeling 4 nos 66 nos 198 nos 4 Cooch Behar 10 nos 76 nos 228 nos 5 Jalpaiguri 1 nos 8 nos 24 nos 6 South 24 parganas 29 nos 301 nos 904 nos PHOTO GALLARY OF STREET PLAY The locations where the street drama played Sl No. Date District Block G.P Show Place 1 05.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Asannagar Asanagar Shiv Mandir 2 05.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Asannagar Asanagar Guccha Sampad Kendra 3 05.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Asannagar Kashipur Bashberia 4 05.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Bhimpur Jivan Dip Wellfare Society 5 05.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Bhimpur Pakurgachi School Ground 6 05.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Bhimpur Infront of Trinomul Bhawan 7 04.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Dogachhi South Jatrapur(Beside Health Centre) 8 04.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Dogachhi Ichapur Tarun Sangaha 9 04.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Dogachhi Besiade Jalkhali Rly. Stn. 10 03.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Dignagar Hatisala Pry. School 11 03.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Dignagar Palpara Bazar 12 03.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Dignagar Chabighata Pry. School 13 04.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Poragachha Gobrapota G.S.F.P School 14 04.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Poragachha Khamarpara Pry. School 15 04.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Poragachha Kulagachhi G.S.F.P School 16 03.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Chakdinagar Itla Mathurapur Adibasi(P) School 17 03.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Chakdinagar Khushibati Pry. School 18 03.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Chakdinagar Itla Jr. Basic School 19 03.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Bhatjangla Bhatjangla G.S.F.P School 20 03.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Bhatjangla Uttar Bhatjangla Netaji Vidyapith Pry. School 21 03.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Bhatjangla Durgapur Pry. School 22 07.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Ruipukur Amjhata Janakalyan F.P School 23 07.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Ruipukur Harishpur Panchanontala 24 07.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Ruipukur Nrishinapur 25 07.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Bhanderkhola Bhanderkhola Pry. School 26 07.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Bhanderkhola G.P Alaka 27 07.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Bhanderkhola Paninala Battala 28 06.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Joania Malipota School Ground 29 06.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Joania G.P Located Village 30 06.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Joania Boealia School 31 06.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Bhaluka Bhaluka Board Pry. School The locations where the street drama played Sl No. Date District Block G.P Show Place 32 06.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Bhaluka Bhaluka Musalman Para Pry. School 33 06.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Bhaluka Sijaipur Pirtala Pry. School 34 06.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Deypara Shimultala 35 06.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Deypara Gouranga Bazar 36 06.07.15 Nadia Krishnagar 1 Deypara Harishpur 37 08.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Nokari Nokari Flower market 38 08.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Nokari Gram Panchayet 39 08.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Nokari Mati Kumra Bazar 40 09.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Kamalpur Doula Pry. School 41 09.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Kamalpur Dhantala High School 42 09.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Kamalpur Doula Upendra Roy Smriti Pry.School 43 09.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Raghunathpur Hijuli 2 Bankimanagar Station Road 44 09.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Raghunathpur Hijuli 2 Paschim Para Debipur 45 09.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Raghunathpur Hijuli 2 Debipur Jr. Basic School 46 08.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Debogram Balidanga 47 08.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Debogram Debagaram Pandeypara Pry.School 48 08.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Debogram Ghola Purbapara Janakalyan Pry.School 49 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Jugal Kishore Majdia Pry.School 50 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Jugal Kishore Shibpur Pry.School 51 10.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Jugal Kishore Shaktipada Pry.School 52 10.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Duttaphulia Barbaria Bazar 53 10.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Duttaphulia Kushberia 54 10.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Duttaphulia Barbaria Colony 55 11.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Aranghata Aranghata G.S.F.P (Boys) School 56 11.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Aranghata Aranghata High Attached G.S.F.P School 57 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Aranghata Aranghata G.S.F.P (Girls) 58 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Bahirgachi Madhyapara Bahirgachi 59 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Bahirgachi Kadamtala More 60 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Bahirgachi Dalua Bari Bazar 61 14.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Raghunathpur Hijuli 1 Nutangram G.S.F.P School 62 14.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Raghunathpur Hijuli 1 Hijuli G.S.F.P School 63 14.07.15 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Raghunathpur Hijuli 1 Ganada Sundari Prathamick Vidyalaya 64 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Shyamnagar Pakar More 65 Nadia Ranaghat 2 Shyamnagar Kumud Nagar The locations where the street drama played Sl No.