A clean act

-- (Credit: EMKAY)Samanwaya Pavantaka Sanghorn Kerala Hygiene

In Kerala's Kozhikode district, string puppets have become an effective medium to popularise hygiene. The Total Sanitation Mission implemented under the aegis of the Rural Development Agency of the district has employed the services of the well-known puppetry group Samanwaya Pavantaka Sanghom (sps) to stage short skits in schools. According to the group's director, T P Kunhiraman a puppet skit, Suchitva Gatha -- which talks of the importance of sanitation and hygiene -- has been staged in more than 200 high schools of the district. More than one lakh students have seen the skit and now there are plans to take the programme to Malappuram district as well. sps had earlier staged puppet shows for the district literacy mission and was also part of a mission to create awareness about aids. The group relies on popular tales and fables such as the Panchatantra to get its message through.