Collector Anand Mohan addresses the gram sabha meeting held at Nochchikulam in Tirunelveli district on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The gram sabha meetings held in all villages of the district as part of Independence Day celebration on Saturday focussed on creating awareness of drug menace among residents, particularly youth, and development works to be implemented during the current fiscal.Collector Anand Mohan, who participated in the gram sabha meeting held at Nochchikulam in Palayamkottai panchayat union, said the use of tobacco, drugs and alcohol would ruin individuals, their families and, finally, the tranquility of their village. Hence, they should say a firm ‘no’ to them, the very first time. Even if the three evils were introduced by their friends or relatives, the youth should unwaveringly say ‘no’, as those who introduced them could neither be friends nor relatives.“I seek the wholehearted cooperation from every citizen of the district in this war against tobacco, drugs and alcohol. Anyone coming to know of the smuggling, stocking, sale and use of banned tobacco products and drugs should alert the police, who will swing into action in no time without revealing your identity to anyone. With your cooperation alone, the official machinery can uproot these evils to save you and your children,” Mr. Anand Mohan said.The Collector reiterated the need for insuring crops in the wake of ‘Super El-Nino’ threatening the State this year. Following deficit rainfall from the southwest monsoon, the district could get receive a heavy downpour from the northeast monsoon between November and December, causing extensive damage to crops, property and infrastructure. While farmers should insure their crops by paying the prescribed premium before the deadline, local bodies should take every precautionary measure to prevent flooding and possible damage to property and infrastructure.“The storm water channels, wild streams, irrigation tanks and drainage channels should be desilted before the start of the northeast monsoon in October, which will effectively prevent flooding and damage to properties and infrastructure. Temporary and permanent encroachments in any water body should be removed within a month through unbiased drive. And, the farmers, by paying the insurance premium before the deadline, should save themselves from possible disastrous crop failure season this year,” he cautioned.He appealed to rural pregnant women to visit the government hospital and primary health centres every month and take medicines prescribed only by doctors. “If any problem is identified during the regular monthly check-up at the government hospital or the primary health centre, the doctors can take due precaution in the right time so that the delivery will be safe and the babies healthier.”District Revenue Officer C. Vidhya was present.
