The city, on Friday, witnessed a slew of awareness programmes and public campaigns as part of observing the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Officials from the Excise Department, Childline India Foundation, District Child Protection Unit, and the District Legal Service Society took the lead role in making the observance meaningful.
Inauguration
District panchayat Kanathil Jameela inaugurated the district-level observance held at Medical College auditorium.
Students from various city schools lined up for an awareness rally against drug abuse as part of the programme. Assistant Excise Commissioner T.V. Raphael flagged off the rally.
To mark the observance, the Excise Department distributed hundreds of specially prepared leaflets among students as part of its ‘Nervazhi’ programme.
Rural areas
Rural areas were also covered in the drive with the support of student volunteers.
The department also announced the extension of its information gathering mechanism by forming new anti-narcotic clubs in educational institutions and putting up more complaint boxes for easy exchange of information.
First box
District Collector N. Prasanth distributed the first box under the scheme to Medical College Union chairman K. Jishad. Mr. Prasanth also opened the anti-drug observance jointly organised by the Childline India Foundation and the District Legal Service Society at the JDT Islam Higher Secondary School.
District Child Protection Officer Sheeba Mumthaz, Assistant Sessions Judge R.L. Baiju, and Deputy Director of Education Girish Cholayil were present.
