Manipal: The Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal in association with Manipal Runners’ Club, Udupi District Police and Udupi Press Club will be organising a five-kilometre run on September 23 to create awareness about the menace of drug abuse.
Elaborating about the event at a press meet organised at Manipal University Meeting Hall on Thursday, September 20, pro chancellor, MAHE, Dr. H S Ballal said that the run will be flagged off outside the university building at 7.15 AM and will end at KMC Green. “The run is important as a large number of our population are students under the age group of 25. It is, therefore, necessary to create awareness about the dangers of drugs. The police play an important role in containing drug abuse,” he said.
Superintendent of Police Udupi, Laxman Nimbargi said that Udupi police have been conducting various programmes to create awareness about the perils of drug abuse over the last two months. “The run on Sunday will be the culmination of that campaign. In addition, it will also be an opportunity to create awareness on physical fitness, which will also keep one away from drugs. The idea is to try and render Manipal drug free,” the SP said.
Coordinator of the event, Dr. Vinod Nayak, who is also the secretary of the MAHE Sports Council said that majority of the runners would be students from the university and other colleges of the district.
MAHE vice-chancellor, Dr H Vinod Bhat and pro vice-chancellor, Health Sciences and Dr. Poornima Baliga were also present at the press briefing.