Kozhikode: Magic campaign against drugs evokes big response

KOZHIKODE: The 'magic' campaign against drug addiction by the Kozhikode District Legal Service Authority in association with Magic Academy, Koyilandy, is getting good response from the schools and students. The campaign, intended to cover nearly 25 selected schools is already getting inquiries from many more institutions across the district. The campaign, started on June 27 as part of the International Day against Drug Addiction and Illicit Trafficking, intends to convey the dangerous aftereffects of drug addiction and alcoholism among the students using simple magic shows.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, District Legal Services Authority secretary and sub-judge R.L. Baiju said that they have been overwhelmed by the response from the public towards the campaign. "We are getting a lot of calls, even from lower primary schools to conduct the magic show campaign in their institutions. However,  since it is not practical to cover all the schools in short period, we are only focusing on selected schools where we think the campaign would be beneficial," he said. The secretary added that the one-month campaign might go beyond that period considering the response from schools.

The magic show is being conducted by a team led by Sreejith Viyur of Magic Academy, Koyilandy who is also an English teacher at Meppayur GVHSS. "We are using simple magic tricks to make the students aware about the bad effects of addiction. When we communicate with them through a medium which really interests them, it would be fruitful and that's how the magic awareness campaign came into being. “Our academy is running with the motto 'social intervention through magic' and this is the fourth such awareness programme we are being part of. Earlier we had conducted magic therapy for mentally challenged, environmental magic and magic for teachers for better taking classes," he said.