New Delhi: Wishes and Blessings, in collaboration with Asmita Theatre Group, presented a nerve-wrenching Nukkad Natak at Connaught Place (CP), to create awareness about elder abuse and promote respect and dignity for people in their twilight phase.
In the 30-minute-long Nukkad Natak, actors could powerfully portray the pangs and sorrows of senior citizens due to the negligent behaviour of family and society. And the script was meant to correct the perception of the audience towards these old people in and outside the family. The thought-provoking plots and meaningful dialogues have spellbound the audience 
throughout the play. The powerful medium of street theatre also drew the audience’s attention, underscoring the importance of respect, empathy, reporting incidents of elder abuse, and providing support to victims.
“We believe in the power of art and theatre to create awareness and inspire social change,” said Dr. Geetanjali 
Chopra, Founder and President of Wishes and Blessings. “Through this Nukkad Natak, we want to educate the public about the prevalence of elder abuse and empower victims by taking action against it. Our ultimate goal is to foster a society that values and cherishes the contributions of our elders.” Wishes and Blessings have been empathetically serving the elderly people under the Mann Ka Tilak, an initiative taken by Dr. Geetanjali Chopra in April 2018 with their first old age home in Delhi and subsequently more in Delhi and Vrindavan. These private and charitable homes provide a new lease of life to old and abandoned women.
Spokesperson of Asmita Theatre Group, Arvind Gaur, commented, “Through our collaboration and artistic endeavours, we aim to shed light on the critical issue of elder abuse. By combining our art with Wishes and Blessing’s compassionate approach, we strive to create awareness and inspire action. This year’s theme, ‘Closing the Circle: Addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Older Age Policy, Law, and Evidence,’ emphasises the urgency of implementing effective policies, legal frameworks, and evidence-based interventions to combat gender-based violence experienced by older individuals. Together, let us use our voices and creativity to protect and empower our elders.”
The event was attended by many social activists and influencers as well, and they hailed the entire efforts of Wishes and Blessings and Asmita Theatre Group. In their opinion, street plays are an effective medium of communication for providing people with an opportunity to engage in dialogue, learn about available resources, and unite in the mission to protect and support older adults.
