The youth in Chhattisgarh have taken to Nukkad Nataks (street plays) to spread awareness about forest protection, conservation and management with focus on the traditional practices. The exercise is the part of Madhyanchal Forum's programme on community based forest management (CBFM) on community land in 16 villages of four districts- Kanker, Gariyaband, Dhamtari and Bilaspur covering eight panchayats. For this, a team of 10-15 local youths were oriented on the objectives of conserving forest. Village volunteers and animators who are involved in the initiative are helping community understand the importance of forests in their day to day life.

Street plays are organised in the late evening in a common place in the village. Around 50-100 people come to watch the plays. The theme of the plays is presented to the audience before the act. The themes ranges from the small forest produce such as twigs to brush their teeth to larger concerns like climate change and biodiversity. The communities are made to realise that forests belong to them and they are the saviour of their rich culture and customs and how children and women share a special bond with them. The whole idea of these street plays is to rekindle the sense of ownership towards forests and the responsibilities to protect and conserve them. The plays also give the clear message that the communities must not indulge in destroying the forests and should restrict to getting only minor forest produce. They must restrain from illegal wood cutting. As for grazing the cattle, the message is that they need to leave one area and take fodder from the other to allow regeneration of vegetation. The plays also focus on treatment of 'medicinal plants' carefully and making 'fire line' to protect the forest from fires. Along with the revival of age old practices like the 'Thengapali' which is a vigil over forest by the households on rotation basis. Themes also include importance of seed storage, nursery and seed balls.