Say no to drugs, alcohol this New Year’s Eve

Students, prominent citizens, actors, film directors and police officers pledge to have celebrations without alcohol, addictive substances

VASHI: A day ahead of the New Year’s Eve celebrations, the city police commissionerate and the state’s Nashabandi Mandal along with the city-based non-governmental organisation Anvay Vyasan Mukti Kendra, organised an awareness programme against addiction.

School students along with police personnel and several residents pledged against addiction to drugs, alcohol and other substances at Shivaji Chowk in Vashi on Wednesday. A street play was conducted on the occasion by Jagruti Foundation.

Police commissioner Prabhat Ranjan said, “Addiction, whether of alcohol, drugs or other such substances, has not done any good to anyone. It has ruined several lives, not just of the addicts but also their families.”

“New Year Eve is certainly a time to celebrate but it does not mean that we lose our senses,” said Ranjan. “The youth are lured to drugs and other addictions by people near their schools and colleges.”

“There are instances of youth falling prey to alcohol and drugs during new year celebrations. Hence we organised this programme just before the parties begin,” said Magdum, one of the organisers.

“We targeted residents who are addicted to alcohol and drugs. We also spoke to the youngsters, guiding them to stay away from such addictions,” Magdum said.

Nage asked the students to not do anything that would hurt their parents. “They are sacrificing a lot for you and you need to understand their feelings,” he said.

Police commissioner Prabhat Ranjan, additional commissioner of police Vijay Chavan, deputy commissioner of police Shahji Umap, Nashabandi Mandal general secretary Varsha Vilas, film director Satish More, actor Devdutt Nage and Anvay centre director Ajit Magdum too were present for the programme, that was held in the context of the new year celebrations on Thursday.

THE PROGRAMME WAS ORGANISED AS THERE WERE INSTANCES OF YOUTH FALLING PREY TO ALCOHOL AND DRUGS DURING NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS

Participants of the awareness camp against addiction take selfies at Shivaji Chowk, Vashi, on Wednesday.

PHOTOS:BACHCHAN KUMAR (From left) Actor Devdutt Nage, Nashabandi Mandal general secretary Varsha Vilas, deputy commissioner Shahji Umap, deputy commissioner Suresh Mengde and commissioner Prabhat Ranjan take a pledge against addiction.