Port Blair, Oct. 22: The Department of Social Welfare in collaboration with Health, Education & Police Department is organizing awareness programme on ‘Ill Effects of Alcohol and Drug Abuse’, to make Andaman & Nicobar Islands ‘Drug Free’. Accordingly, awareness programmes for students and teachers were held at GSSS Bathubasti, Nirmala School and Carmel SSS. More than 400 students and teachers were sensitized through the campaign.

As part of the campaign, an awareness programme was organized at Carmel Sr. Sec. School yesterday in which Smt. Iti Agarwal, Director (Social Welfare) was the chief guest. She highlighted the issues and problems of drugs among the students in society and apprised the students and teachers to join the campaign to make Andaman & Nicobar Islands ‘Drug Free’.

The resource persons from Health, Police and Social Welfare educated the students about different types of drug and their effects on our bodies, ways to recognize an alcoholic or drug addict, how to overcome addictions and where to get help. The students were advised to stay away from alcohol/drug abuse and also to share information with their Parents /Teachers/Police, if they come across such activities around their school, tuition centers or near their Home.

Later an interactive session was also organized by Shri A.K. Biswas, Nodal Officer (Prohibition) for the teachers and students. Earlier, the Principal of the School in her welcome address expressed gratitude to the Social Welfare Department for organizing such awareness programme.