Awareness programme on drug addiction

The Karnataka State Temperance Board, Information Department, Red Cross and National Service Scheme are jointly organising a week-long de-addiction awareness programme across the state.

NR Vishu Kumar, director, Information Department, and Sachchidananda Hegde, chairman, Karnataka State Temperance Board, told a press conference that the campaign will be held from June 19 to 26. It will be inaugurated in Bidar.

Film actresses Shruthi and Sudharani will be part of the campaign and paintings by the students of Chitrakala Parishath in Bangalore will be exhibited in rallies across the state, Vishu Kumar said. Seminars and rallies will be held in all districts. The programme will be taken to all school and college campuses across the state.

The concluding ceremony will be held in Bangalore on June 26. Former cricketer Anil Kumble will deliver a message to the youth regarding drug addiction. Home minister R Ashok and MLA Dinesh Gundurao will be present at the function at the Shikshakara Sadana building on KG Road.

Earlier, the police used to organise awareness programmes on drug addiction at station levels. But from this year, considering the seriousness of the issue, the task been taken over by various agencies.