CREATING AWARENESS: Students of the S.D.N.B. Vaishnav College for Women stage a street play in Thirumal Nagar on Sunday to highlight the ills of consuming alcohol and drugs. — Photo: A. Muralitharan

TAMBARAM: Residents of Tirumaal Nagar on the eastern slopes of the Pachamalai hillock near Tambaram took a break from their routine on Sunday. They were not hooked to the idiot box, instead they were all eyes and ears for a group of enthusiastic students who wanted to do their bit to eradicate the alcohol menace.

Twenty students of the Social Work Department of the S.D.N.B. Vaishnav College for Women performed a street play on the ill effects of addiction to liquor and drugs and its repercussions on individuals, their families and the society as a whole. Before the performance began, the students walked through the entire locality informing residents about the play. The play, which began with students depicting the funeral procession of a young boy, was presented in simple, straightforward and lucid style - at times humorous, but thought provoking throughout. It centred on a schoolboy who comes into contact with liquor due to his irresponsible father and the subsequent problems.

At the end of the play, the students elaborated to the audience the harmful effects of alcohol and the damage it could do to an individual's body. Apart from severe effects on the liver and other vital organs, consumption of liquor led to draining of wealth and discord among family members.

The students said they staged the play to coincide with the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26.

The performance involved the first and second year students of the department, they said. They had staged street plays on various themes ranging from awareness on HIV/AIDS and child labour in the past and planned to conduct similar performances in the future.

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