It is nine years now since 38-year-old Harish Shetty, a resident of Panjimogaru, quit consuming alcohol after attending an eight-day de-addiction camp at Belman in Udupi district organised by the Akhila Karnataka Janajagruti Vedike.
“I was really in a bad shape then. My family members took me to the camp on the pretext of fixing my marriage,” he said. The camp, he said, made a positive impact on him and he is now a changed man.
“There were days when I was treated badly by our neighbours and denied work (he is a painter). Now, I get work not only for myself but also help eight others who are with me find work,” he told The Hindu.
Harish Shetty and 44 other fellow de-addicts have formed a group called “Hosa Bolpu” under which they conduct blood donation camps and other social activities. They intend to organise alcohol de-addiction camp in their locality.
Harish Shetty was among the de-addicts felicitated here on Saturday during a convention of people who have successfully completed the de-addiction programme organised by the vedike and the Sri Kshetra Dharmastala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP).
Among others who were felicitated included S.S. Poovappa, a stone quarry worker from Niddodi near Moodbidri.
“Our will is so strong now that if we go to a bar, we only have food there and nothing else,” he said. Poovappa has been associated with a group of fellow de-addicts of the village who have been inspiring people to undergo de-addiction. The elder member of their group is Kukkara Gowda, who said he quit consuming alcohol 15 years ago.
Speaking at the function, Nalin Kumar Kateel, Member of Parliament, lauded the work of D. Veerendra Heggade, president of SKDRDP, in holding alcohol de-addiction camps.
“By organising alcohol de-addiction camps, Mr. Heggade is bringing in a great transformation in lives of people like Harish Shetty. This service is akin to creating Rama Rajya as intended by Mahatma Gandhi,” he said.
Member Secretary of Districct Legal Services Authority Mallanagouda also spoke.