KOCHI: Amid the ruckus caused by the state government’s revised liquor policy,it emerged the much hyped anti-alcohol and drug awareness campaign initiated by the previous UDF Government has proved a non-starter.
According to official documents, despite a whopping `1.94 crore being spent by the then UDF Government on the much hyped ‘Subodham’ campaign aimed at ending substance abuse,it had failed to achieve its objective. And the incumbent LDF Government had recently substituted it with the Vimukthi project.
Even though up to one lakh people were to be freed from the clutches of alcohol and drugs under’Subodham’ every year,it was not able to achieve this. The awareness programmes merely focused on media blitz, which apparently resulted in the unimpressive outcomes.
As per the documents, `80 lakh was spent on awareness programmes in 2015 and 2016. Curiously, this had been utilised mainly for putting up adverts in media and exhibition stalls during the various temple festivals.
Additional Excise Commissioner (Enforcement) A Vijayan said the Subodham project was not run under the supervision of the Excise Department. “Now it has been replaced by the Vimukti project, which is under the direct supervision of the Excise Department. A governing body has been constituted to oversee its implementation,” he said.
The Excise Department had spent `80 lakh on anti-liquor awareness programmes in 2015 and 2016. Of this, 14 lakh has been allocated to the districts. According to Vijayan, the department is conducting awareness programmes through some 2,500 anti-drug clubs in schools and colleges across the state.
A sum of `33,00750 was spent on school clubs while `3,06,000 was utilised for setting up the anti-drug clubs at colleges. About `5 lakh had been utilised for setting up exhibition stalls in connection with the major temple festivals such as Thrissur Pooram, Uthralikavu Pooram and Iringalakuda Koodal Manikya Temple Festival.
Dr C J John, the city-based psychiatrist,blamed the authorities’ lack of vision and outdated approaches for the rising alcoholism and drug abuse. “By merely curtailing the availability of liquor, consumption cannot be curbed. The state government should come out with an effective policy to prevent alcohol addiction,” he said.
According to James Muttickal, “Only those willing to kick the habit can get rid of the menace of alcoholism via the de-addiction centres or other means”.