APSA-PLAN organised street plays in 10 slums in its operational area in Hyderabad city on January 25 and 26, 2012, as part of its 'Count Every Child’ campaign. Artists from the Center for Arts, Media & Social Welfare (CAMS), University of Hyderabad, tried to convey spirited message mixing it with entertainment.

The message was simple. It elaborated the need and utilities of having birth certificate and various health care facilities provided by government close to their localities for institutional deliveries. During street plays, artists also explained to them various facilities that are being provided at government maternity hospitals. They also detailed how to obtain birth certificates. During these programmes, APSA volunteers assured them they would assist them in securing birth certificates.

The programme was designed after observations collated via a household survey indicated that more than half of children in the slums do not have birth certificates. In some slums, most of the women prefer home deliveries. This was mainly due to ignorance and absence of awareness.

Slums where street plays performed were: Hamal Basti, C B N Nagar, Chacha Nehru Nagar, Lambadi Thanda, Palamur Basti, Dr Ambedkar Nagar, Phool Bagh–II, Siddiq Nagar, Indira Nagar–II and Elchiguda.

G Raj Kumar, Deputy Mayor, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, while inaugurating the street plays, lauded efforts of APSA-Plan to create awareness among poorer and marginal sections in slums on sensitive and critical issues. He appealed to the people of the slums to ensure institutional delivery and obtaining of birth certificate. “Birth certificate is basic requirement to attain benefit of every welfare scheme from the government such asration card, housing, pension and health care and also for school admissions,” he said.

Shailaja Vincent, Manager, Plan-AP, also witnessed a street play in Chacha Nehru Nagar and interacted with slum residents who witnessed the play exploring their awareness status. She appreciated the effort and felt such medium would convey message easily to the community.

R. Bichani, a 48-year-old women from Lambadi Basti said that first time they are hearing need for institutional deliveries. “In all our families we are having home deliveries, here after I will insist my grand children for hospital deliveries”, she said. She appreciated street play artists for making us to understand complex problems in simple way.

Bujjamma, 41-year-old women from Palamuru  Basti said none of their family members have birth certificates. “Now I realised the importance of having birth certificate. First I will apply for birth certificate to my grand children,” she added.