Nukkad Natak, street art projects initiated to promote cleanliness in slums

Street art and 'Nukkad Nataks' (street plays) have been deployed under a project to create awareness among people residing in slum areas of South Delhi about the hazards of open defecation.

The project was part of a larger initiative of ONGC to improve the quality of life and sanitation condition in slum clusters.

The makeover project was a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of state-owned ONGC to promote cleanliness, carried out by Safe Approach NGO along with Delhi Street Art.

"We carried out street art in the slums because by seeing the beautifully decorated walls, the people will be motivated to keep the surroundings clean. The aim is to make it look like a dignified place and not like a slum," Santosh Jha, project manager of Safe Approach NGO, said after an event here.

"People were also made to take a pledge to maintain the hygiene of themselves, their family, and surroundings and also motivate others to do the same so that it becomes a progressive chain, he added.

Apart from this, cleanliness kits including tooth brushes, tooth paste, menstrual hygiene pads, brooms, etc were also distributed to slum dwellers in order to create a daily habit of basic cleanliness among them.

"Cleanliness in ONGC is a way of life. The idea behind this drive was to in-line with the PM's Swachchta Programme and to convey the message especially to the underprivileged segment of the society.

"Within swachchta, we aware people about drinking clean water, sanitation, waste management, river side cleaning and various other things, said a top official of ONGC.

In future, the state-run firm plans to cover all households under the makeover drive so that the place could become a tourist attraction.