Bhubaneswar: The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2019 was observed at the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) office here Wednesday in collaboration with the Excise department.
More than 500 students and youth leaders participated in the event addressed by Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Minister Ashok Chandra Panda and Bhubaneswar-Central MLA Ananta Narayan Jena. Commissioner-cum-Secretary of state Excise department Sushil Kumar Lohani also spoke on the occasion.
The participants organised a rally which started from BMC office premises and continued up to Master Canteen Square, via Kalpana and Rajmahal Squares. The participants included NCC cadets, cadets from Bharat Scouts and Guides, NSS volunteers, Biju Yuva Vahini members and students from BJB Autonomous College.
The minister said, “It is a challenge for all of us in the society and especially the youth, who are growing up in a difficult time. We all should be vigilant and keep a watch on the society to stop drug abuse and illicit trafficking of drugs.’’
The Bhubaneswar-Central MLA said, “This movement was there in the past and will continue it in the future so that we can rescue people from the grip of drugs and their addictive effects as they would destroy the social system. All members of the society should remain alert to keep a watch on the drug users.”
Lohani said, “The day is being observed every year globally as well as locally to make everyone accountable and aware about the ill effects of the addictive substances as once someone becomes a prey, he/she remains under its control throughout. In order to break ourselves from the addictive tentacles of drugs we need to be aware and make others aware.’’