Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jun 28: Link Anti-Addiction Citizens Committee, which has been engaged in the task of helping families and individuals afflicted by alcoholism and drug addiction for the past 25 years, celebrated its silver jubilee on Wednesday June 28 by observing International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at Town Hall here.
Honorary president of Link committee Dr Sathish Rao recalled the 25 years of service Link Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts has rendered to society and the impact it has made in helping people overcome addiction and lead better lives.
The programme was inaugurated by deputy commissioner Dr K G Jagadeesha. In his address he lauded Link for enabling people to get rid of addiction while also stressing on the way people get addicted to substances initially and role of parents in protecting their children from falling prey to alcoholism and drug addiction.
Link committee vice-president and well-known social worker Dr Olinda Pereira released a commemorative magazine marking the silver jubilee and thanked everyone involved in Link for the service they have been rendering.
DCP Hanumatharaya asked everyone to take a pledge against drug abuse.
As part of the silver jubilee celebrations, a contest urging youth not to choose drugs was held in the city colleges. Athena College of Nursing secured the first place in the contest, while SCS College of Nursing came second, and Ramakrishna College bagged the third spot.
Former addicts who are now leading lives free of drug and alcohol addiction were felicitated on the occasion.
Women and child development commission deputy director Sundar Poojary, DK child protection officer Usman, Mangalore University NSS and Red Cross Society convenor Prof Vinitha, corporators Vijaykumar Shetty, Praveenchandra Alva, and Link committee honorary secretary Austin Peris were present.
Dr Sathish Rao welcomed the gathering, programme convenor Melwyn proposed the vote of thanks, while administrative officer of Link Lydia Lobo compered the programme and member Santhosh D'Souza conducted contests.