The department of Women and Child Development celebrated the International Day against Drug Abuse and illicit trafficking by participating in ‘The Run’ organised at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Wednesday. This annual event to raise awareness amongst the masses is being organised since the last 16 years. All the stakeholders including Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, National Institute of Social Defense (NISD), Narcotics Control Bureau, Directorate of Prohibition, UN Agencies and corporate partners like ONGC, GAIL, Indian Oil, IGL, Petronet, NDMC, ITS, LPU put their efforts to involve the masses, especially the youth in sports and physical activities to keep children and youth away from drugs and channelise their energy into positive mode.

The morning routine included the one kilometre race, thematic cultural show, theme poster making, Shapath by all 5,000 participants.

The Union Minister of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot, assured the gathering that his ministry has framed a national action plan to educate the public and providing them counselling and management of drug-related problems.

This year’s theme ‘Listen First’ is an initiative started in 2016 to increase support for prevention of drug use that is based on science and is thus an effective investment in the well-being of children and youth, their families and their communities. Speaking on the occasion, SB Shashank, director of department of Women and Child Development, mentioned that the department is coordinating with all the stake holders such as health and education, Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, Delhi Police, Delhi State AIDS control society, etc., to combat drug abuse. For the past 16 years, the campaign has seen more than 1,00,000 participants or families.

All the activities were planned keeping the drug abuse preventive measures in the focus and educating the youth to stay away from the drugs.