This ‘Disposable’ makes one think beyond waste and its disposal. It is a street play staged by Karungappally Nattarangu and is about the elderly who feel unwanted in this world of speed and snapshot relationships.
Being staged as part of the Health department’s National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly, the play is making waves in the district.
The street play, organised by the District Medical Office (DMO) here, tells the sorry state of the elderly at their homes in the age of self-centred nuclear families. The play propagates the message of love and compassion that the elderly gravely need during their twilight hours.
The play has several scenes that could arouse tender emotions in spectators — a son being cruel towards his parents, another son sending out his aged father from the house, children and in-laws harassing a lonely mother, a daughter working abroad who wants to send her aged father to an old age home for urinating in the bed, etc.
The play will be staged at 40 centres in the district, that include select schools, bus stations, polytechnics, hospital premises, etc., before the campaign ends on October 10, according to DMO office sources. Gracy Ithaq, District Medical Officer; T. Anithakumari, Deputy DMO; S. Prathibha, psychiatrist, and P.M. Vidyadharan, District Programme Manager, are spearheading the awareness programme in the district launched on October 1, the International Day for Older People.
The script and direction of the play is by M.K. Biju Muhammed. So far, it has been staged at 20 places and received with applause.
The awareness campaign will come to close with a major rally at Kozhencherry on October 10.
