THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Lending a big support to the “Drug-free Kerala” campaign launched by Vimukthi Mission under the Excise Department, employees of all government and public sector undertakings across the state today took the anti-drug and de-addiction pledge.
Minister for Ports, Museum, Archaeology and Archives, Ramachandran Kadannappally, read out the pledge to the employees of the Government Secretariat at the Durbar Hall here. Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Taxes, Satyajeeth Rajan, Principal Secretary, GAD, K R Jyothilal, and senior officials were present on the occasion.
The programme was organised to impart further momentum to the ongoing 90-day intensive anti-drug and de-addiction campaign being carried out by Vimukthi Mission. As part of the awareness campaign, anti-drug committees have been formed in all government offices. Each unit has five members, two of them women. They have been tasked with conducting awareness campaigns in all offices before January 30.
Earlier, more than 25 lakh students in the State had taken ‘Drug-free Kerala’ pledge and put on anti-drug badge. Vimukthi has forged partnership with anti-drug clubs at schools and colleges, student police cadet corps, state library council, voluntary outfits, and student, youth and women organisations. The mission has also launched educative, awareness and rehabilitation programmes and counselling service to root out the menace.
Giving a big boost to the campaign, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan changed the cover photo on his Face Book account on the New Year eve to highlight the significance of the drive for a better future. Vimukthi has also roped in Kudumbashree units to spread the “Say no to drug” message, besides displaying boards and stickers on as many as 500 KSRTC buses plying around the state.
