Play on Textile Workers’ awareness

1. Employees of the medium-sized “Model Textile Factory, Gajumuta” are excited to find out that a major Western client (Hi-Kiey) has short-listed them for a huge contract and are sending an expert for quality & social audit. The management and the workers plan to prepare for the visit and meet all the Code of Conduct requirements. The management team includes MD Durrani, GM Mehfooz, Senior Supervisor Jorra and Secretary Saira. The workers include ex-hockey player Karishma; master stitcher Single Mum Nasreen and her gifted daughter Parveen; differently-abled computer operator & returning migrant Pardesi; master cutter Ifti, Ustad, the workers contractor and sanitary worker Shakeela. Transgender washer Najmi and Christian security guard Kooba also act as narrators of the play. The old gardener of the factory Mali Baba is also around who sings Sufi Charkha (traditional spinning wheel) songs.
2. Through dramatic and interesting exchanges, we learn about the stories of the characters and issues they are facing. The sexual harassment faced by Nasreen, discrimination suffered by Najmi and Yaqub, challenges overcome by wheel-chair bound Pardesi, the ambition of Nasreen’s ambition to become Supervisor and MD’s plans to develop a modern management model.

3. There is a mystery about the expected Hi-Key representative and how they should deal with the person. They find out that the visitor is a woman and her name is Dora. The management motivates the workers to put up a good show and promises incentives if it gets the contract. Najmi, keeps everyone amused by her lively songs and naughty remarks. They wonder about the appearance and attitude of the mysterious Dora.

4. Then suddenly a young woman, in Western clothes, appears. Thinking that she is Dora, the workers sing a welcome song and present their work. The visitor is surprised to be addressed as Dora. “I am not Dora, I am Durdana.” The workers find out that she is MD’s daughter who has returned after, studying textile management. She wants to make Model Textile a modern and worker-friendly factor and stresses that the best way to impress Dora is by being truthful and efficient. She also plans to set up a Dialogue Committee to discuss matters of workers-management concern.

5. In the meanwhile, Karishma and Pardesi learn about each other’s struggles. Karishma can perform all kind of tricks with her hockey stick while Pardesi can amaze everyone by his skilful wheeling on the wheel-chair. 6. Then there is another announcement of the arrival of Dora. Once again everyone welcomes her and shows her around. This Dora is very attractive and beautifully dressed but is rather arrogant and “people-allergic”. Soon it is found out that she is not the Hi-Key Dora but a super model from Pan Dora Fabrics, a local client. Durdana introduces Cynthia, an IT trainer from Sri Lanka, who starts an IT training programme.

6. Nasreen shares her childhood stories with daughter Parveen. She talks about the traditional weaving culture in her village and sings a song about two characters called “Tana Bana”. Parveen’s gift of innovative designing is discovered by Durdana, who promises to pay for her education in textile designing. Nasreen wins a competition to get promoted as Master Trainer.

7. Jorra is caught harassing Nasreen and is sorted out first by Karishma and then by Durdana who refers the case to the Sexual Harassment Committee. The Committee takes firm action against Jorra.

8. Finally, there is news of the real Dora. Durdana figures out how to locate Dora with a mobile phone App. They discover that she is already in the building. Cynthia is the in fact Dora. Durdana calls Dora’s number and is shocked to find out that Cynthia is in fact, Dora. She had disguised to do a truthful audit and is very happy to see a forward-looking management and motivated workforce.

9. Everyone celebrates.