KOCHI: The Excise Department is expecting the participation of nearly 10,000 people in the half-marathon to be staged here on August 12. The programme is organised by Vimukthi- the anti-drug wing of the Excise Department- with the objective of strengthening the campaign to free the city of the drug menace.
“There will be a 21 km half-marathon and a short distance fun run. The half marathon will begin at 5.30 am from Maharaja’s College to Willingdon Island and the runners will return to Maharaja’s. Professional athletes are scheduled to take part,” said Joint Excise Commissioner P K Manoharan.
The first prize winners in both the men’s and women’s category will each receive a Rs 50,000 cash prize. The second and third prize carries a cash prize of Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000, respectively.
There will be a short distance marathon for differently-abled students. The Fun Run will be held from Maharaja’s to Cochin Shipyard. Those interested in entering the Fun Run can register through www.vimukthimarathon.kerala.gov.in. For more details: 9496081303, 9447126720 and 9447458621.
Green Protocol
Hibi Eden MLA, who attended the pre-marathon preparatory meeting, asked the officers concerned to make sure the marathon and Fun Run adhere to the Green Protocol. “The heap of waste after every marathon is a major issue. This should be avoided. So, plastic bottles and similar materials should not be allowed at the venue,” he said.
Need for communication
Mayor Soumini Jain said in the present fast-paced world, the parents are not communicating effectively with their children and it is one of the major reasons for the increase in drug abuse cases among children. “The parents are not talking to their children though they spent hours on WhatsApp and Facebook. This makes the children feel lonely and he/she will seek refuge in drugs,” Jain said.
According to the Mayor, drug abuse among children is on the rise in Kochi. “The drug syndicates targeting schools are rampant here. A joint campaign involving both the police and Excise along with the common people’s participation is necessary to tackle substance abuse among youth and students,” she said.