Bhubaneswar: The state government will use folk artistes in awareness drives on various water-borne and mosquito-borne diseases this monsoon to ensure a wider reach among the people.

Members of the Block Kala Sanskruti Sangha will stage a number of cultural programmes - such as dance, music and streetplays - in 314 blocks of the state to spread awareness on diseases, such as dengue, malaria and diarrhoea.

Unicef officials recently conducted a two-day disease awareness programme in the city where folk artistes were given training on the matter. The project is being jointly planned by the state health department and Unicef.

State culture department project coordinator Basudev Malbisoyi said: "The artistes will also create awareness on the various welfare schemes of the government. This will give the artistes alternative livelihood opportunities and a chance to explore their skills from a social perspective while also benefiting the common man."

The state government has already initiated steps for branding of local folk art organisations. The government is collaborating with the artists on a number of projects to enhance the social communication plans of various folk art committees.

Block-level Lok Kala Mahotsavs (folk art festivals) will be held in all the 314 blocks of the state for promotion and protection of various indigenous folk art forms.

The government will also take steps to expedite enrolment of a more folk artists under the Nagar Kala Sanskruti Sangha and Zilla Kala Sanskruti Sangha.

"We are monitoring the progress of the scheme through video-conferences every month. We are also conducting district-level training programmes for upcoming artistes," said state culture secretary Manoranjan Panigrahi.

Cash loot

Unidentified motorcycle-borne criminals looted Rs 1.5 lakh cash at gun point from an employee of a cooperative bank at Kalapada village in Marshaghai police station area in Kendrapada district. Sushant Das, the daily deposit collector, was on his way to deposit the money at the cooperative bank in Mahakalpada when two motor-cycle-borne criminals waylaid him at gun point and snatched the bag containing the cash. The culprits are yet to be identified. Investigation is on to crack the crime, said a police officer.