The entire activity was well coordinated. A lot of thought and planning must have preceded the implementation. I noticed that while one of the men was positioning the fl ex charts the other drove the Ratha slowly along the village’s bumpy roads. Part of the crowd followed him and many people stepped out of their homes and joined the large group. One of the men on the chariot held audience attention by keeping a monologue going. He presented scenarios, gave examples, asked questions and talked of things that the villagers could relate to.

Inching closer to the Swasthya Ratha, I realised it was an effective medium for disseminating information and publicity on the GKS. The idea of using a large improvised gaily coloured chariot done up with bright posters, banners and local artifacts had succeeded in getting the undivided attention of a large captive audience. With a strong local fl avour it had illustrations and folk art adorning its exterior with messages that would appeal to all age groups.

A woman of about 30 years of age was standing next to me. I asked her what was her name and what was it that drew her to the Ratha. She said her name was Pravati Biswal and she was a Self Help Group member and what attracted her most was, “the song that played in the Ratha and the beautiful way in which it was decorated. It looked like the handiwork of special local artistes.”