Mangalore : Schools, police dept assure pro-active measures to tackle drug menace

mangaloretoday.com

 Mangalore Feb 8, 2013 :  “Students  have been adopting a risk taking behaviour these days and there is no one to guide them in the right direction,” lamented Dr Ramila Shekhar, noted counselor and faculty at School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya.

She was speaking as a resource person at an anti-drug campaign organized by the Mangalore city police and the district administration at the conference hall of police guest house here on  February 8, Friday. The meet was organized with an intention of tackling the drug menace in the surroundings of schools and college. Heads of various institutions participated in the programme.

 

Ramila Shekhar further said  youth may take wrong directions either due to a family or social problem. Continuing,  she said the lack of attachment between children and parents, peer pressure as well as movies may force children taken to  drugs.

 All departments need to join hands to tackle the menace, she said and added  children should be saved before they fall deep into the trap.  She also said parents should stop the tendency  to hide bad habits of their children. She also suggested  appointment of professional counselors in campuses  to ensure that  no student is addicted to drugs. The society should lend a helping hand to drug addicts instead of demoralizing them, she added.

Prof. Hilda Rayappan of Prajna Counseling Centre, who delved on the serious issue said she handled at least two drug addiction cases a week. She urged parents to keep a strict eye on the children and added most addiction cases take place when there is lack of supervision.

Sharada Vidyalaya College Principal who was present pointed out how the institution was unaware that Sneha was a drug addict until her parents admitted her to a rehabilitation centre some time back. She also pointed out that a wine shop had come up close by her institution and also  close by the Canara and Besant Colleges and stressed the need for authorities to close down the shop.

Mahatma Gandhi High School Headmistress who was also present, recalled how Sneha was warned several times for misbehavior and once even  found eating supari.

 Deputy commissioner N Prakash while pointing out that cracking the drug mafia was a daunting task, at the same time added parents and teachers can play a pro-active role and exercise caution whenever they find any difference in the behaviour of their children.

City Police Commissioner Manish Karbikar, who also spoke, while expressing concern over the rising cases of drug addiction, hoped interaction with principals and teachers would help in tackling the menace.

 K N Vijayaprakash, Chief Executive Officer  of Zilla Panchayat, Muthuraya,  Dharmaiah,DCPs , Venkatesh Prasanna, CCB Inspector  and others were present