College students pledge drug-free lives as Nirmaya campaign begins

Mangaluru: The week-long awareness programme at Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Business Management, Mangaluru, was arranged by the institution’s National Service Scheme, Youth Red Cross and Rovers and Rangers units. Host-college students recited a joint pledge to shun narcotics and to help build a healthy, safe and drug-free society at the opening of ‘Nirmaya – Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ on Wednesday.

Dr. Harish Krishnaswamy, former CEO of Tata Trust and Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP), inaugurated the drive, spoke of the damage drugs cause to the brain and stressed seeking assistance at the proper moment to escape addiction. He counselled students to grow the habit of a firm refusal when companions try to draw them into harmful practices.

Guest of honour Dr. Sheshappa Amin, NSS coordinator of Mangalore University, described the ill effects of addiction and pressed young people to take responsible decisions. Chief guest Dr. Manjula Anil Rao, president of the Dakshina Kannada BJP Mahila Morcha, told students to choose peers with caution, keep their eyes on their targets and refuse unnecessary influences. She recalled duties owed to family and society, urged a positive mind-set, called for distance from anti-social behaviour and recommended that students discover their interests and work at them devotedly.

Vice-principal Divya Uchil presided. Student Varuni Acharya compared the programme and Jyeshta Shetty delivered the vote of thanks. Students from various colleges will join mural-painting, speech, reel-making and street-play competitions during the week ahead.

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The Hans India