KOZHIKODE: The excise department’s statewide initiative Vimukthi against drug and alcohol abuse will be launched in Kozhikode next month. The campaign, envisaged on the lines of the literacy movement, has the cooperation of all stakeholders. The department is planning to create awareness among the public about substance abuse and alcoholism through a series of programmes.
As part of it, committees will be formed at the grassroots as well as at the district level with the help of civic bodies. Kozhikode excise deputy commissioner P.K. Suresh said almost 70 percent of the panchayats in the district had formed ward-level committees for its implementation, which include politicians, youth organisations and NGOs.
“By bringing all sections of people into this fold, we are planning to launch this project in a comprehensive way. People need to know the circumstances that led to drug addiction and alcoholism, how to tackle it and how to rehabilitate the victims,” he said. Deputy mayor Meera Darsak said they already had a meeting with excise officials and decided to form ward committees as soon as possible.
