Port Blair, March 26: The Department of Home Science, JNRM, in association with the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India and “WITH YOU NGO, Bambooflat organised a one-day Awareness Programme on Drug Abuse Prevention and “NUKKAD NATAK” for Community in Hope Town Grampanchayat. The Chief Guest Shri. Arshdeep Singh Panwar, DANIPS, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bambaooflat inaugurated the programme.

Addressing the gathering the Chief Guest appreciated the Department of Home Science, JNRM for taking initiative to organise this programme in Hope Town Gram Panchayat. He urged the participants to pay more attention towards the causes of addiction and has highlighted on preventive education, awareness generation, identification, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependent persons.

The Guest of Honour Smt. Rashida, Pradhan, Hope Town Gram Panchayat requested the mothers to have an eye on the children’s day to day activities. The Panchayat is working for creating more awareness towards drug abuse prevention, she said.

Ms. Mariyam Bibi, Member, Zilla Parishad spoke on the role of NGO in rehabilitation and training, capacity building for drug free society. The students should be encouraged to participate in sports through which they can eradiate negativity, she added. 

Dr.  K. Venkatesan, HOD, Home Science spoke on the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) and this aims at reduction of adverse consequences of drug abuse through a multi-pronged strategy involving education, de-addiction and rehabilitation of affected individuals and their families.

Dr. Rekha Kumari, Resource Person, Department of Home Science spoke on the menace of drugs on youth and society. Shri. Nasir, SHO, Bambooflat also spoke on the occasion. Shri. Lakshmi Narayan, Samity Member also addressed the gathering.

Earlier the students of B.Sc. Home Science performed “Nukkad Natak” on drug abuse prevention in Hope Town Junction and Market area which was witnessed by the general public. Smt. Poonam Ajay Singh, Resource Person, Department of Home Science welcomed the gathering.