President Presents National Awards For Outstanding Services In The Field Of Prevention Of Alcoholism And…

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented the National Awards for Outstanding Services in the field of Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse today (June 26, 2013) on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at a function at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that for a nation like India, given our demographic profile, alcoholism and drug abuse are a matter of serious concern. He stated that there is an urgent need for concerted efforts of all stakeholders to prevent and eradicate this menace. He called upon coalitions of teachers, faith-based groups, health care providers, law enforcement officials, and all community leaders to join together to address, in a comprehensive but sensitive manner, alcoholism and substance abuse in their respective areas.

The President said that we need to make a greater effort to generate awareness of the deleterious effects of drug abuse in a sustained, continuous and result oriented manner. He stated that while de-addiction and rehabilitation centers have an important role to play, appropriate and timely educational inputs would be most effective in steering the curious, or those at risk, away from such substances. He emphasized that efforts should be made to develop a nationwide, community-based system of prevention that connects stakeholders at every level. Together, and hand in hand with local organizations, they can deliver solutions that are responsive to the diverse and specific needs of the affected and the susceptible, he added.

This release issued at 1320 hrs