The state government will organise a programme across the state from June 19 to 26 to encourage people to give up liquor.
The state government will organise a programme across the state from June 19 to 26 to encourage people to give up liquor.
The Karnataka State Temperance Board is in charge of the week-long campaign. The secretary of the board, HB Dinesh, said the deaddiction programmes would be held at all district headquarters. He said hundreds of high-school students and college students are expected to attend the programme. He said the aim of the programme is to create awareness among people about the ill-effects of consuming liquor.
Under the alcohol deaddiction initiative, the temperance board will adopt a few villages in two districts in the state. Dinesh said that currently, the board was organising awareness programmes in 22 villages in Uttara Kannada and eight villages in Chamarajanagar.
He said these programmes indeed yield results. To cite an example, he said Dr Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala has been organising awareness programmes for deaddiction for long and more than 50,000 families were benefited because of them.
More street plays
The secretary of the board said it was considering increasing the number of street plays during this year’s campaign. Last year, the board had organised about 50 street plays in and around Mysore during Dasara. He said that this year, the number of the plays would increase to 60 and they would be staged not only during Dasara, but also at Savadatti during Goddess Yallamma fair.
Many mutt chiefs have also come forward to help the temperance board with the programme. Dinesh said Mahanta Swamy of Hilakal mutt had been organising Mahanta Jolige—awareness programme on deaddiction—for the last 25 years. He said the board was organising a felicitation programme on July 2 to recognise Mahanta Swamy’s yeomen service.
Many schools and colleges have also joined hands with the temperance board to spread the message. According to sources, it had a tie-up with 22 schools and colleges last year. “We are planning to increase the number of schools and colleges to 30 this year. These schools and colleges have to organise rallies to convey a message to society on the ill-effects of liquor,’’ he said.
The temperance board has been organising street plays to create awareness among people on the ill-effects of liquor. The board had a tie up with various drama troupes to organise the plays. The drama troupes get Rs2,500 per show.
Loopholes
Amar Dev of Roopantara Creative People, Bangalore, had organised 15 street plays between November 26, 2010, and December 5, 2010, in Mysore. He said that along with the plays, the board must provide information on the deaddiction centres and the treatment available there.
“One or two employees of the temperance board should accompany the drama troupes. They should provide all the information sought by the audience,’’ he said.
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