Deputy Commissioner T.K. Swaroopa on Wednesday said the Central government has launched the drug-free India (Nasha Mukt Bharat) campaign under which citizens are expected to build a sustainable society free of substance abuse.

Speaking at the fifth anniversary celebrations of the campaign at Volakadu Government Composite High School in Udupi, Ms. Swaroopa urged citizens to prioritise building a sustainable society in line with the campaign. The programme was jointly organised by the district administration, Zilla Panchayat, Department of Public Instruction and others.

Administering the oath against substance abuse to students, the DC said addictions to drugs have become a social evil wherein a few people get addicted to drugs at a very young age, thereby ruining their lives. An addict not only becomes a bane to family and society, but also gets into committing criminal activities, she said.

The administration would hold more such awareness programmes in the coming days.

Ms. Swaroopa said the young generation should inculcate personal and social responsibilities and prove its mettle as the asset of Nation. It should resolve not to get addicted to substances even as students have the responsibility of informing the elders about activities of drugs peddling in their surroundings.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Prateek Bayal; C.K. Shyamala, Deputy Director, Department of Women and Children Development; Ashok Kamath, principal, District Institute of Education and Training, and others were present.