Schoolchildren in Ooty sensitized on drug abuse

Udhagamandalam: More than 800 people, including schoolchildren, participated in a rally to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in the town on Wednesday. The rally was organized by the Nilgiris police.
The rally, flagged off by Nilgiris SP D Shanmuga Priya, started from Coffee House Junction and ended at RCTC building on Garden Road.
Two CDs – one on importance of wearing helmet while riding two-wheeler and another on drug abuse – were released at a function held at RCTC building following the rally.
Speaking on the occasion, deputy director of health Dr S Porkodi said, “No one would want to get addicted to drugs or alcohol or smoking. But people get influenced by various means and later struggle to come out of it.”
Pointing out that physical activities by children have decreased in the past one decade, she said, “Physical exercise would favour a person with good concentration and alertness.”
Appreciating the response to the programme from school students, Shanmuga Priya said, “This is an awareness programme for youngsters, including schoolchildren. They should know the consequences of falling prey to bad habits and thus should stay away from drugs and alcohol.”
Retired tahsildar Meenakshi Sundaram and professor at Ooty Government Arts College Manikandan also spoke on the occasion.
Competitions such as essay and drawing under the theme of drug abuse were conducted for school students across the district.
Shanmuga Priya distributed prizes to the winners.
Theme for this year for the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is ‘Justice for health; Health for justice’.