Two-month long drug Abuse Awareness Campaign Concludes in Udupi
Pics By Prasanna Kodavoor Team Mangalorean
Udupi: “After Bengaluru, Udupi district is in the second place in registering drug abuse-related cases in the state. The two-month long anti-drug abuse awareness campaign has greatly helped in controlling the drug menace in the district”, said Laxman Nimbargi Superintendent of Police Udupi District.
He was speaking during the valedictory ceremony of the two-month-long Anti-Drug Abuse awareness campaign organized by the Udupi District Police in association with Udupi District working Journalists Association and Udupi Press Club on Saturday, October 7.
Addressing the gathering Laxman Nimbargi said, “With the social responsibility, various programmes that have been organized in the last two months for creating a Drug-free district have received a 60% success rate in the district. During the two-month-long programme citizens of Udupi, students, various religious leaders, associations, Government department, hotels, businessmen, social workers etc have been actively involved. In the two-month campaign, nearly 12-15 innovative awareness programmes were conducted across the district and all the programmes have directly reached the student community”.
Laxman Nimbargi further said, “India has one of the highest numbers of youth in the world. In order to develop the country in the field of economic, social and political, the role of the youth is very important. Youth are the future of our country. Our youth need to be on the right path at right time in their career. The use of illegal drugs should be controlled through various awareness programmes giving a good message. Only the police and other law agencies cannot completely abolish drug abuse. The prevention of illegal drug supply and most importantly to prevent the consumption of drugs is most essential. If supply decreases, the demand also becomes less and lesser. Especially students should stop drug abuse and only then it is possible to make a drug-free society,” he said.
Deputy Conservator of Forests, Udupi District, S Prabhakaran who has become the first Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer to scale Mount Everest shared his experience with the audience and said that, In 2015, he had tried to scale Mt Everest from the southern (Nepal) side but could not. The team had to return from Camp One due to an earthquake.
It was then that he decided to attempt from the northern (China) side. the Southern side is frequented by many Indians and foreigners, but very few climb from the northern side, with limited rescue operations making it more challenging. “I will never forget the moment I reached the peak. It was a rush of emotions- tears, smile and pride. I knew that it was only half success, the second half was when I returned to the base camp,” he said.
The prizes of Short Movie making and News Letter making competitions were distributed on the occasion.
Bhaskar Hande, General Manager of Syndicate Bank, Jayakar Shetty Indrali Manager of Badagabettu Co-operative Society, Kumarchandra Additional SP, Santhosh Saralebettu Secretary of Udupi District Working Journalists Association, Nagaraj Rao Convener of Press Club Udupi were present.
Deepak Jain, Manjunath Kamath, Chethan Matapadi, Parikshith Shet and Trupthi LP announced the winners’ list.
Ashok Poojary of Digvijaya welcomed the gathering, Santhosh Saralebettu delivered the vote of thanks. Divakar Hiriyadka treasurer of Udupi District Working Journalists Association compered the programme.
Short Movie Contest Result – Degree Section
First Prize: University Evening College Mangaluru, Second Prize: K R Hegde College of Paramedical Science Kota, Third Prize : Milagres College Kallianpura, Consolation Prize : Vaikunta Baliga College of Law Udupi and NMA College Nitte.
Short Movie Contest Result – Degree Section
First Prize: National PU College Barkur, Second Prize : Amritha Bharati PU College Hebri, Third Prize: Poornaprajna PU College Adamar, Consolation Prize : Green Valley PU College Shiroor, Government PU College Bailur Karkala.
News Letter Making Contest
First Prize: MGM College Udupi, Second Prize: Bhuavanendra College Karkala, Third Prize : Bhandarkars College Kundapur.