Report by OD bureau; Lanjigarh: Huge response was seen from the people of Lanjigarh area in Kalahandi district of Odisha to the Street Plays organized to Crate Health Awareness in an entertaining way. The campaign reached out to 36 villages of Lanjigarh periphery, mainly tribal dominated, organized by Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) in association with the Health and Family Welfare Department Govt. of Odisha.

The street plays concentrated on health related issues like – malaria, diarrhoea, mother & child health, hand washing, safe drinking water, individual household toilet, sanitation etc. The campaign was conducted from 4th July'12 in peripheral villages like Rengopali, Basantpada, Bundel, Lanjigarh, Nangalbeda etc. Meaningful health-related messages were given through the street plays.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mukesh Kumar, President & COO–VAL, said, “Lanjigarh is a malaria-prone area. Due to lack of awareness, health related issues crop up in their life. This campaign has touched the lives of the people in these regions which will help them to maintain a healthy society.”

The people in the region were receptive to the awareness programme as many of them are unaware about maintaining better healthcare. Appreciating the street plays, Linga Majhi of Rengopali village said, “Our people are unaware about such issues like malaria, diarrhoea, mother & child health, safe drinking etc. Many people till now hesitate to go to hospital and opt to the locally available sources to cure themselves. However, these plays have educated us (especially women) in an entertaining way. We are thankful to VAL.”