Palamur pitches for drug-free district

Mahabubnagar: As part of 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' programme launched in Mahabubnagar, the district administration has taken up a huge awareness campaign to eradicate drug addiction among the people and is aiming to make Mahabubnagar district free from all kinds of narcotic addictions.

While launching an awareness rally at the District Collectorate, the District Collector S Venkat Rao said that the main objective of 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' programme is to make India free from addiction of dangerous drugs. In continuation to this initiative, the district collector observed that the district administration has also decided to take up a huge awareness campaign at all levels including village, mandal and district level, so that the awareness about the bad effects of using narcotic substances like gutka, khaini, alcohol, smoking and chewing tobacco and using dangerous drugs like heroin, cocaine, etc and make sure each and every individual is cautioned from getting addicted to such substances which will not only ruin their careers, but also spoil their health and destroy them socially and economically.

"By conducting awareness rallies at the village, town and district levels, we are trying to bring awareness and are awakening the people about the bad effects of drugs and tobacco related substances. Particularly the youth, who are more vulnerable as they tend to get attracted towards drugs. Therefore, it is high time to eradicate the menace right from the root," said the District Collector.

Already, the district administration had instructed to all the departments at the district as well as at mandal levels to conduct meetings and take up awareness campaigns in a big way to ensure that each and every individual is aware of the adverse impact of chewing gutka, khaini, smoking beedi, cigarettes and taking alcohol.

"Recently, district level meeting was also conducted in the presence of Excise and Prohibition Minister Srinivas Goud where we discussed all the issues on how to go about making Mahabubnagar Nasha Mukth. Already, we have banned smoking in public places and the sale of gutka, khaini, etc.

The Collector also opined that there is a need for all the departments in the district to work in coordination and take up the awareness campaign seriously, so that the district can soon become Nasha Mukth. As many as 500 Asha workers, Anganwadi workers and ANMS took part in the rally with placards which was flagged off by the District Collector.

Additional Collector Tejas Nadalal, Pawar, District Welfare Officer Swaroopa Rani, Dr Krishna, DM &HO, Venkat Reddy, DRDO, Lion Natarajan, Indian Red Cross Society District President and others took part in the awareness rally.