Navajeevana convention to be held in Dharmasthala on Feb 15

Mangaluru: Akhila Karnataka Janajagruthi Vedike will organise a Navajeevana convention for people who have overcome addiction at Dharmasthala on February 15. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will be present at the convention which will see the participation of around 4,000 persons along with their family members, said SKDRDP chief operating officer Anil Kumar.
Those who have overcome addiction will be honoured with ‘Jagrithi Anna’ and ‘Jagrithi Mithra’ awards, Anil Kumar told reporters on Saturday. The forum has so far conducted 1,644 de-addiction camps across the state and helped 1.13 lakh people recover from addiction. After they overcome their addictions, they are introduced to self-help groups and are encouraged to look for self-employment and skill development. ‘Swastha Sankalpa’ programmes are organised in schools and colleges to create awareness of the ill effects of substances and alcohol. So far, 13,211 ‘Swastha Sankalpa’ programmes have been organised in the state.
‘Ninage Neene Geleya’ - a Kannada book written by Dr Virupaksha Devaramane, a consultant psychiatrist working at Dr AV Baliga Memorial Hospital Udupi, will be released on the occasion. The book educates people on common problems faced by these children, and positive coping strategies for them. It also creates awareness . The book has been dedicated to Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Hegde for conducting thousands of de-addiction camps across the state and helping lakhs of addicts to live an addiction-free life.
Janajagruthi Life Time Achievement Award 2023 will be conferred on Dr Thomas Scaria, an internationally certified addiction professional and trainer with over 30 years of experience in several Asian countries. He has served in more than 25 countries in addiction management programmes. Dr Scaria has worked closely with the Jana Jagruthi Vedike and Shri Kshethra Dharmastala Rural Development Project. He is the founder of Link Rehabilitation Center, Mangaluru and is also the founder of Ecolink Institute of Well-Being and an ISSUP (International Society of Substance Use Professionals) award winner.