Colleges to take up de-addiction campaigns

The department plans to take help of colleges to spread the message. “Colleges will be free to carry out their own de-addiction campaigns with the government providing funds for it. Rewards will be given to college with the best themes,” said a senior official from the Social Justice Department. Each college will be selected for their merit and the amount will be given accordingly,the official added.

If a college works on any particular model to prevent addiction and is seen implementing it effectively,we will be able to give funds towards this programme,” said the official.

The new de-addiction policy was approved by the state Cabinet in June this year to spread awareness about de-addiction among youngsters through college themes.

Colleges in Pune are keen to participate in the programme. Fergusson College principal Dr R Pardeshi said the college already has some awareness programmes but will work towards charting out an effective one.

Abasaheb Garware College principal Dr Shrikant Gupta said once the programme is given to us by the state government we would be keen to implement it in letter and spirit. S P College principal Dr Dilip Seth said he would undertake a programme for the same so that the college can participate in this initiative.

Ness Wadia College of Commerce principal Dr Mahesh Andar said they have an oath taking ceremony for both staff and students and some signboards advocating de-addiction. “We would definitely like to chalk out a detailed programme on this initiative,” he said.

The department also plans to rope in celebrities and produce documentaries to spread the de-addiction message. The department is coordinating with the school education department to introduce chapters on de-addiction in the school curriculum and has plans to initiate 50 new de-addiction centres in the state.

Muktangan De-addiction centre deputy director Dr Mukta Puntambekar said there has been no survey carried out yet to assess the number of addicts. “It is a difficult process and although there have been meetings to discuss the issue,it is difficult to find out the actual number as people may not come out in the open about addiction,” said Puntambekar.