MMTTC, JMI organizes an awareness programme under the aegis of ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ in collaboration with ‘Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses’ and Nasha Mukt Hostel Committee (NMHC), JMI
Nai Dilli : The Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre (MMTTC) of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), in collaboration with the Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM) and the Nasha Mukt Hostel Committee (NMHC), JMI, yesterday successfully organized an impactful awareness programme as part of the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’. The event was aimed at spreading awareness among various stakeholders in the academic community about the ill effects of drug abuse and the importance of collective and informed efforts in ensuring a drug-free society.
The programme commenced with a warm welcome by Prof. Kulwinder Kaur, Director, MMTTC, who emphasized the urgency of addressing the growing substance abuse among youth by sensitizing the educators through such programme. Prof. Ushwinder Kaur Popli, Nodal Officer, NMHC, highlighted the initiatives taken by the hostel committee to spread awareness among the resident students in hostels across universities and colleges.
The event was marked by the oath-taking ceremony—first administered in Hindi by Dr. Dori Lal, IASE, JMI, and then in English by Prof. Kulwinder Kaur, Director, MMTTC. A total of 135 participants, comprising faculty members, researchers, hostel representatives, and staff, took this oath to make their institutions and the country drug-free.
This was followed by the introduction of the keynote speaker, Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Executive Director of SPYM, India, by Prof. Savita Kaushal, IASE, JMI. In his special lecture, accompanied by audio-visual materials, he began by giving the big statistical picture of the drug addiction problem in India. He highlighted the addiction syndrome as per WHO standards. Dr. Kumar discussed the three-pronged approach to overcome the problem through prevention, counseling, and treatment. Further, he provided critical insights into the psychological, social, and physical causes as well as consequences of drug addiction by drawing from his own rehabilitation work at the grassroots level. He gave an overview of SPYM’s interventions, rehabilitation models, and successful recovery stories, reinforcing the idea that recovery is possible with the right support and awareness.
The highlight of the programme was the sharing of a personal rehabilitation story by Mr. Subimal Banerjee, a former addict and beneficiary of the de-addiction programme at SPYM who is now a project associate with them. The participants lauded the comeback autobiographical story of overcoming the drug addiction by Mr. Banerjee and found it very motivating.
The session sparked a very enriching discussion. The participants raised several important queries, which were very well addressed by the invited expert. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Savita Kaushal. In the end, the Director, MMTTC gave a call for sustained action and collaboration with multiple stakeholders to nurture a safe, responsible, and drug-free academic community.
