(The City’s Exam: Swachh Survekshan 2026)

Characters:

1. Sutradhaar: The high-energy “Principal” of the play.

2. Sharma Ji: The skeptical citizen who thinks his “one vote” won’t matter.

3. Riya: A college student, tech-savvy and aware.

4. The Volunteer: Explaining the 5 stars of the survey.

5. Chorus: The voice of the city.

[OPENING ]

(The team enters in a high-speed circle. On every “Tak-Dhina!”, they stomp their right foot together. They hold imaginary Report Cards high in the air.)

All: (Beat) Tak-Dhin! Tak-Dhinnn… TAKK DHINAAA!  All: “Board exams aate hain, tohneend ud jati hai!” Sutradhaar: “Ghar mein shaadi ho, toh poora mohalla sajwate ho!” All:(Pointing to the audience)

“Par jab SHAHAR ka exam aaya… toh tum sab chadar taan ke kyun so rahe ho?”

Sutradhaar: (Blowing a loud whistle) “Suno! Suno! Suno! Swachh Survekshan ka danka bajchuka hai! Ye sirf Collector sahab ya Mantri ji ki report nahi hai…” All: (In a loud roar)

“Ye hamare shahar ki IZZAT ka sawal hai!”

[SCENE 1]

(Sharma Ji enters, looking around like a secret agent. He has a plastic bag of mixed waste—peels, plastic, and paper. He tries to ‘slide’ it into a corner with his foot.)

Riya: (Clapping her hands loudly, catching him red-handed) “Arre! Arre! Sharma Uncle! Ye kya ‘Secret Mission’ chal raha hai? Bin-mausam baarish toh suna tha, par aap ye ‘Bina dekhe’ ye kachra gali mein kyun fek rahe hain?”

Sharma Ji: (Acting innocent) “Arre beta, tum bacche na… har baat ko ‘Viral’ kar dete ho! Itna bada shehar hai, itni gandagi hai… mere ek chote se thaili se kya tumhare shehar kiRanking gir jayegi? Baaki log bhi toh phenkte hi haina !”

Sutradhaar: (Jumps in between them, blowing a whistle like a referee — Fweeeet!)

“FOUL! Sharma Ji, apka yehi ‘Chalta Hai’ wala attitude hi toh humein piche kheenchraha hai!”

Sutradhaar: (To the audience, witty and sharp) “Suniye doston! Swachh Survekshan koi ‘Google Form’ nahi hai jo sirf bhar diya aur bhul gaye. Is baar ek-ek ghar ka feedback aurek-ek thaili kachra hamari Ranking banayega!

Sharma Uncle, agar aapne kachra mix kiya, toh hamare shehar ke ‘Stars’ kam ho jayenge. Auragar ‘Stars’ kam huye… toh hum pehele number par kaise ayenge?”

Riya: “Wahi toh Uncle! Aap chahte hain na ki log hamare shehar ko ‘Indore’ aur ‘Surat’ se zyada saaf kahein? Toh pehle ye ‘Chalta Hai’ wala system band kijiye!”

[SCENE 2]

Sharma Ji: “Ye Survekshan-Survekshan kya laga rakha hai? Isse humein kya milega?”

Volunteer: “Uncle, ye hamare shahar ka ‘Report Card’ hai!

1. Source Segregation: Gila kachra alag, Sookha alag!

2. Waste to Wealth: Kya aap ghar pe khad (compost) banate hain?

3. Dust-Free Roads: Kya hamari sadkein chamak rahi hain?

4. Citizen Voice: Sabse zaroori—kya aapne ‘apna Feedback’ diya?”

Riya: “Agar hum piche reh gaye, toh log kahenge—’Sharma Ji ka shahar toh bada ganda hai!’ Acha lagega aapko?”

[SCENE 3]

(Riya takes out her phone. The Chorus forms a giant “Smartphone” shape behind her.)

Riya: “Uncle, apna phone nikaaliye. Swachh Survekshan ke portal pe jaiye ya SwachhataApp kholiye. Wahan aapse 5 sawal pooche jayenge.”

Sharma Ji: “Sawal? Kaisa sawal?”

Volunteer: “Kya kachre wali gaadi roz aati hai?”

• “Kya aap kachra alag-alag karke dete hain?”

• “Kya aapko apna shahar pehle se saaf lagta hai?”

Riya: “Aapka ek ‘HAAN’ hamare shahar ko Ranking mein 100 kadam aage le jayega! Ye aapka ‘VOTE’ hai aapke apne shehar ke liye!”

[SCENE 4]

Sutradhaar: “Toh dosto, Survekshan mein No. 1 aane ka formula likh lo!”

All: (One by one, stepping forward)

1. Gila-Sookha Alag: “Hara dabba gila, Neela dabba sookha—kachre ko kabhi mat milao!”

2. Home Composting: “Apne kitchen ke kachre se ghar mein khad banao, ‘Waste to Wealth’ ka hissa bano!”

3. Single-Use Plastic: “Plastic ko kaho ‘Tata-Bye-Bye’, kapde ka thaila hai asli hero!”

4. Feedback: “App pe jao, apni ‘Complaint ‘ darj karo!”

[FINALE ]

Sharma Ji: (Deleting a game on his phone to install the App) “Samajh gaya! Ab mera shahar’Selfie’ mein hi nahi, ‘asliyat ‘ mein bhi chamkega. Main abhi feedback dunga!”

Sutradhaar: “Shahar hamara hai, toh zimmedari bhi hamari hai!”

All: (In a high-energy, rhythmic chant with clapping)

“Swachh Survekshan aayo re… Shahar ka maan badhayo re!” (Clap-Clap) “Gila-Sookha alag karenge… No. 1 pe hum rahenge!” (Clap-Clap) “Feedback ki taqatdikhao… Apne shahar ko jitao!” (Clap-Clap)

Sutradhaar: “Is baar, hamara shehar…” All: “SABSE SWAACHH! SABSE SUNDAR! JAI HIND!”