Keeping chili powder out of their eyes.

This paper discusses the performance under the Parivartan project initiated and implemented in India based on the first-hand experience of the author. This pilot project started with 10 individuals trained to perform plays on different subjects in various villages and after 1 year of operation the casts were able to perform 4 plays in 30 targeted villages. Performance of these individuals entails a song to invoke and notify villagers followed by another song which briefly introduces the main point of the story. The performers first present the traditional folk section followed immediately by a contemporary version of the same story that is parallel to existing problems. The play generally ends with the entire acting company dancing while the performers were chanting the lessons of the story. After the performance an address to the audience to encourage small group discussions was made. Interviews with actresses revealed their enthusiasm in performing and the changes it made in their lives. Furthermore the author emphasizes that the program could not be measured quantitatively instead qualitative change in the lives and attitudes of the villagers could very well measure its success. To end careful organization and administrative collaboration between villages in implementing the project have proven worthy as a model for such efforts.