JU's Kathua Campus organizes its 3rd Extension Outreach Programme

Feb 10, 2023

KATHUA: Aiming to keep the children, youth and students away from the menace of drugs, Kathua Campus, University of Jammu today organized its 3rd Extension Outreach Activity on "Drug Abuse: Problem, Management and Prevention along with Stationery Distribution Drive at Government Higher Secondary School, Kathera.

More than 400 students from Government Higher Secondary School, Kathera and Kathua Campus, University of Jammu participated in the said activity.

The awareness programme was also attended by more than 100 people from Panchayat Kathera who were thrilled by the performance of the students of Kathua Campus, University of Jammu in the form of a play on Drug Abuse.

Further, a two-week stationery collection drive was launched by Kathua Campus, University of Jammu on 26th of January, 2023 in order to help the children of the adopted village Kathera and the stationery was distributed today to more than 350 students of Panchayat Kathera in order to channelise their energies to harness their potential in nation building and refrain them from bad habits, so that they can focus harder on their studies.

The esteemed speakers at the occasion were Kewal Krishan (District Education Planning Officer, Kathua), Dr. Rajesh Chandel (Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, Government Medical College, Kathua), Sanjeev Sharma (Inspector, Police Training School, Kathua), Varun Sharma (Sub Inspector, J&K Police, Poonch) and Devinder Kumar (Retd. Zonal Education Planning Officer, Hiranagar).

While speaking on the occasion, Kewal Krishan said that the drug menace is badly affecting the society in general and children in particular. Thus, there is an acute need to spread awareness among society, especially children against this evil so that it can be uprooted. He further said organizing these types of awareness-oriented programmes at school level are quintessential for the teen age students.

Dr. Rajesh Chandel opined that drug consumption is dangerous to the mental and physical health of everyone and thereby, drug abuse is destroying our future generation. He further underscored the psychological and medical aspects of drug abuse in tender age students.

Sanjeev Sharma stressed on the need of involving students in cocurricular activities in addition to their academics so that they can utilize their time properly. Further, he advised the students to join sports to be mentally and physically fit.

Varun Sharma advised the children to stay away from illegal drug consumption and also requested the public to inform Police about illegal drug consumption and supply if they come across it. Further, he insisted the students to fight against this menace in their locality also.

Devinder Kumar emphasized on the importance of such awareness programmes to safeguard children from drug abuse in any manner. He further highlighted the challenge of drug abuse in India and suggested the retired employees especially from the education sector to come forward to take initiatives for the welfare of the youth in particular and society as a whole.

Ashok Kumar, Principal, Government Higher Secondary School, Kathera appreciated the efforts of Kathua Campus, University of Jammu for organizing the awareness programme on Drug Abuse and for distributing stationery among the children of panchayat Kathera to focus more on studies.

The Special Guests from Panchayat Kathera who attended the programme were Joginder Singh (Naib Sarpanch, Kathera), Mohinder Singh (Panch, Kathera) and Trishla Devi (Panch, Kathera).

Dr. Meenakshi Kilam, Rector Kathua Campus, University of Jammu said that Kathua Campus, University of Jammu adopted the village Kathera three months ago and declared to organize one awareness/social activity per month for the welfare of the people of this village at the grassroot level.

She further said two activities viz. Cleanliness Drive Trek and Gender Sensitization & Career Counselling have already been organized by Kathua Campus in this region. She also highlighted the importance of awareness programmes as regards drug consumption by the students and youth posing a grave cause of concern for the society. Further, she reiterated that Kathua Campus shall contribute tirelessly for the progressive development of Kathera village so that it can usher in the era of development.

Dr. Sourabh Shastri, Incharge Head (Computer Science), Kathua Campus, University of Jammu and Organizing Secretary of the activity welcomed the special guests and esteemed speakers at the occasion and apprised the participants regarding the relevance of such awareness programmes to weed out the drugs menace from the society.

Ritika Goyal, Coordinator of the programme delivered a vote of thanks. Dr. Sunny Sharma, Gaurav Sharma, Pranav Ratta, Avtar Singh (Retd. JCO) and other faculty members of Kathua Campus were also present during the programme.