KOCHI: In order to fight drug menace in schools and create anti-narcotic awareness among students by encouraging them to use their energy and time for physical activities, the student police cadets (SPC) of Ramamangalam High School in Ernakulam have started a new campaign.
Named ‘Say no to Drugs, Say yes to Football’, the campaign aims to urge students to stop using drugs and instead find ‘intoxication’ in playing football, a sport which demands a lot of energy and stamina from the players. The SPC unit in the school plans to create football clubs in the school and neighbourhood to give training for students in football. Matches and tournaments between SPC units in various schools in the area will be organized with the support of several football turfs.
“The campaign is a continuation of our campaign ‘Say no to Drugs, Say Yes to Arts’, which we had held earlier. We chose football as most students are attracted towards the sport now especially with tournaments like Indian Super League having huge fanfare. We want to guide students to use their energy for their physical and mental wellbeing. We also aim to reduce screen time. We already have games club in most schools, so training in football can be done by the physical education teachers,” said Anoob John, community police officer, Ramamangalam High School.
John said that there is an increasing trend of using drugs like cannabis among school students and many fall prey to drug peddlers. “The increased availability of drugs is a concern despite strong enforcement activities. So besides enforcement, we need strong awareness programmes,” he said.
The SPC will also associate with the excise department’s Vimukthi anti-narcotic campaign by conducting awareness classes and distributing brochures or pamphlets in the football venue. “Vimukthi will be giving trophies to the winners of the match. As part of the campaign, activities like flashmobs, marathons, and cycle rallies too will be held,” John said.
The official launch of the campaign was held by Puthencruz DSP G Ajaynath on Wednesday by kicking the football at the school in the presence of Ramangalam inspector Rajesh V, school headmaster Mani P Krishnan, PTA president TM Thomas, physical education teachers Shiny K Jacob and Smitha K Vijayan. Further activities of the campaign will be held in the coming days.
