Over 2 lakh youths covered under DLSA’s anti-drug drive in Ranchi

Ranchi: A special drive conducted by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Ranchi, saw as many as 2,18,750 youths taking an oath to never use drugs. The DLSA drive was taken up under its DAWN (Drug Awareness and Wellness Navigation) initiative to save youths from addiction.Officials said DLSA Ranchi conducted 7,375 events during the drive, including rallies, display of banners ‘say yes to life, no to drugs’, painting competitions, street plays and outreach programmes in slums and rural pockets.Notably, a police officer, who had a drug addict son, also approached the DLSA and sought help for rehabilitation. The officer said his son beats up family members, and of late, the youngster had broken his limbs. DLSA intervened and facilitated the admission of the youth in the Ranchi Institute of Neuro psychiatry and Applied Sciences (Rinpas).During the concluding function on Monday, judicial commissioner Anil Kumar Mishra said the campaign ended on National Youth Day, which is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and asked the youths to take inspiration from Vivekananda’s teachings. He also distributed shields and certificates among the students who participated in painting and essay competitions held during the week.DLSA secretary Rakesh Roushan asked the para-legal volunteers to be sensitive towards drug addicts and take the initiative for their treatment and rehabilitation.Narcotics Control Bureau SP Shariqque Omar asked the audience to spread awareness against drug abuse among the illicit opium cultivators, who, he said, are growing poison.Social worker Atul Gera said people should take up drives from their homes, saying they should try to stop any family member with habits like smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco, as they are prone to addiction.