The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Day against drug abuse observed in jail

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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Day against drug abuse observed in jail

Staff Reporter

Photo: S. Gopakumar

Vow against a menace: Inmates of the Attakkulangara sub-jail taking pledge in connection with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Thiruvananthapuram on Wedenesday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was a mixture of music and sermon for the inmates of Attakkulangara sub jail here on Wednesday afternoon.

After listening in rapt attention to some of the popular Tamil film songs rendered by a percussion artiste, the 300-strong inmates were subjected to an intense “soul-search” by the speakers who spoke, often rather emotionally, on the significance of the occasion. International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Pannian Raveedran, MP, who inaugurated the event tried to associate with the audience by describing his own experience in doing away with the habit of drinking and smoking. “Laws alone cannot help to minimise drug use. What we need is will power. Our mind is a very powerful instrument,” he said.

He then went on to narrate how he decided to quit smoking and drinking. “Till 1976, I used to smoke on a regular basis. Then one day I decided that I will not smoke again. That was it,” he said adding that even when he had temptations in the future he would prevent himself from succum bing to the urge. “I stopped drinking after being caught by my mother,” he said.

According to him, all kinds of drug abuse begin from seemingly innocuous habits such as smoking a “beedi” or chewing “pan parag,” gradually the potency increases and the habit becomes addictive. “Today the latest fad is snake venom,” he said indicating the gradation. He advised the inmates to look at jail as temporary abode that equipped them with a better future. “People become criminals due to circumstances, a jail should serve as a place for you to begin a new life,” he said. He later read out an anti-drug pledge to the inmates. H. Gopakumar, Director Inspector General, Prisons, said that nearly 95 per cent of the prisoners in the State used drugs. “This often leads to physical violence among the inmates inside jails,” he said. The function was also attended by N. Krishnan Nair of the State Bank of Travancore and M. Mohanakumaran, superintendent, district jail.

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