Port Blair, Feb 17: The Department of Social Welfare has initiated a campaign to create awareness on ‘ill Effects of Alcohol & Drug Abuse’ involving A & N Police, Health and Education Department. Accordingly, tentative calendar of activities for students of class IX to XII of different schools have been finalized.

The inaugural function was held in Govt. Model Senior Secondary School, Port Blair yesterday in which 162 students including teachers and staff participated. The programme was inaugurated by Shri Prateek Raj Yadav, Director (Social Welfare). Speaking on the occasion, he highlighted the issues and problems related to drugs among the youth. He requested the students and teachers to join the campaign, initiated by the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, towards making Andaman & Nicobar Islands ‘Drug Free’. He stated that the issue of alcohol & drug abuse is becoming a major health hazard and social evil in Andaman & Nicobar Islands and to overcome this issue, it is necessary to create awareness and educate the students about the ill effects of alcohol & drug abuse apart from individual, family, work place and society at large.

The Resource Persons viz. Dr. M. K. Mahato from Health Dept., Shri Rangaswamy, SI from Police Deptt., Smti. Indra Devi, Mukhya Sevika of Social Welfare Deptt., Dr. Naveen Govind, Nodal Officer, Mental Health, highlighted the issues related to drug abuse. Earlier, Smti. Anu Raju, Principal, Govt. Model Senior Secondary School, in her welcome address expressed her happiness for organizing such awareness programme and Shri S.P. Mishra, PGT, Bio/Nodal Teacher proposed the vote of thanks.