KOCHI: Art of Living proponent Sri Sri Ravi Shankar joined hands with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Sunday to launch Subodham, a campaign against alcohol and drug abuse.
Initiated jointly by the Art of Living Foundation, the UNICEF and the State government, the campaign aims at ridding one lakh people of the substance addiction in a year.
A UNICEF official was also present on the occasion. Ravi Shankar lauded the government’s decision to enforce phased prohibition and initiatives against the increasing influence of alcohol and drugs and put an end to violence against women and children.
“In my last visit I was shocked learning about the statistics about the use of alcohol in the State and this is indeed a welcome change for a State that boasts of 100 percent literacy,” Ravi Shankar said.
The spiritual leader also lauded excise minister K. Babu’s declaration in his presidential address earlier that the State would introduce anti-alcohol and anti-drug literature in the school curriculum.
“Kerala can become a model for the rest of the States in the country,” he said. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy wondered how a section of the State’s population continued to abuse alcohol.
“Women of the State do not use alcohol, nor the children up to 10 years and also elders beyond the age of 80. So it’s from among the remaining population that the alcohol users come. The State Government is willing to forego the Rs 7000 crore income from this source but there needs to be co-operation from all quarters to end the menace,” he added.
Social welfare minister Dr M. K. Muneer, mayor Tony Chammany, Swami Adyadmananda Saraswati, bishop Karikkassery and imam Shamsudin Qasimi also spoke.
