Industry Odisha Bureau, Oct 10: Odisha is using street theatre to spread the message of public service. The Namo Seva Gatha Pathapranta Natak campaign has reached all 30 districts of the state.
The initiative reflects the vision of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture is implementing it on the ground. Dr Bijaya Ketan Upadhyaya, the department’s Secretary, is steering the drive. The campaign draws on the state’s folk performing arts to promote civic duty. It aims to build a sense of shared responsibility in local communities.
Street theatre has deep roots in rural Odisha. Village crossroads, banyan shades and panchayat grounds often double as stages. Local actors perform in regional dialects, backed by folk music. Their stories dramatise the values of selfless service and civic unity. The format turns performance into a bridge between government and people.
It works especially well for audiences that formal campaigns often miss. Elders, women and young villagers find the messages familiar and relatable. The cultural setting makes complex social ideas feel personal.
The latest district wise progress report shows the campaign’s wide reach. It has covered 4,398 gram panchayats across Odisha. As many as 528 troupes have staged 4,559 street plays so far. These shows have reached more than 8,05,825 people.
The drive has also given hundreds of folk artists fresh pride and purpose. They are emerging as custodians of both culture and social awareness.
By rooting outreach in local heritage, the department has struck a chord with communities. The campaign shows that effective outreach must touch hearts, not just inform. It also underlines the lasting power of traditional art to unite people. In Odisha, old art forms are now helping shape a shared future.
Alternative headlines: “Folk Theatre Takes Seva Message to 8 Lakh Odias” or “Odisha’s Village Stages Become Classrooms of Civic Duty.”
