Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS/SN)
 
Mangalore, Jun 22: Information department, DK district, Madyapana Samyama Mandali, Bangalore, Balepuni panchayat, Jana Shikshana Trust, SKDRDP (Shree Khestra Dharmastala Rural Development Project) collectively organized a programme to observe world anti-narcotics awareness week at Dr Ambedkar Bhavana in Balepuni Gram panchayat here on Thursday June 21.
 
Keynote speaker Dr K N Vijayprakash, CEO, zilla panchayat addressed the gathering and stated that the consumption of alcohol spoils social, economical, mental and physical health of addicted people. The reason for increasing numbers of crime is also alcohol consumption. He said that alcohol makes man inhuman, and that social respect of an individual degrades if that person is an alcohol addict.

He pointed out that alcohol addicts are not only the illiterate, but educated people have also fallen victim. Taking note of the initiative of Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala which organizes de-addiction camps, Dr Vijayprakash said that the work of Shree Kshetra is commendable.
 
On this occasion two people namely Vishwanath Pai from Puttur and Taniya Koraga from Monte Padavu who quit alcohol were honored. Expressing his opinion Vishwanath Pai said that it was literally a re-birth for him after he quit alcohol. Recalling his financial crisis due to his addiction to alcohol, he said there were 9 cases of cheques that bounced against him in the Puttur court in 2009 which he could repay after he quit alcohol. Taniya Koraga opined that he regained respect in the society after he quit alcohol.
 
On the occasion Sakala project was inaugurated at Balepuni gram panchayat by ZP CEO.
 
Santhosh Kumar Rai, ZP member, Kurnadu inaugurated the programme. M Chandrashekar Alva, president of Balepuni Gram panchayat presided. District information officer Rohini welcomed. Senior Journalist Guruvappa T Balepuni compeered the programme.