Rallies, awareness programmes, blood donation camps marked the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in different parts of the district on Tuesday.
The theme of this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse is “listen first: listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe”. The Day is observed as an expression of society’s determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.
Volunteers of the Youth Red Cross and NSS of schools and colleges along with members of voluntary organisations took out an awareness rally in the city and it was flagged off by Police Commissioner K. Shankar from the Collectorate.
Mr. Shankar, Deputy Commissioners of Police – G. Subbulakshmi (Law and Order) and P. Thangadurai (Crime and Traffic) – A. Gnanagowri, Chief Educational Officer, walked in the rally which passed through the Tiruvalluvar statue junction before reaching the Bose Maidan.
The participants carried placards and banners with slogans explaining the harmful effects of drug abuse and the need for creating a drug-free society. They also distributed pamphlets to the passers-by en-route.
The YRC volunteers enacted street plays at important points to create awareness among the public.
A large number of school and college students participated in the competitions organised in connection with the day. Mr. Shankar gave away prizes to the winners.
The students, professors and staff ofthe Periyar University took out a rally on the university premises and it was led by P. Kolandaivel, Vice Chancellor. The students were sensitised on the ill-effects of drug abuse.
M. Manivannan, Registrar of the University, said that the more than 450 crore people have become drug addicts across the world and it has caused much concern to the entire society. He appealed to the students not to fall prey to drug addiction.
The students were explained about the different types of narcotics drugs being used by addicts and their ill-effects. The penal provision of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985, commonly referred to as the NDPS Act.
The Vice-Chancellor administered oath to the students.
The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) observed the day by organising a blood donation camp at the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital. More than 40 volunteers, led by P. Kandasamy, district president of the DYFI, donated blood at the camp. N. Praveenkumar, district secretary, and V. Venkatesh, district treasurer were among those who donated blood.
