Fazal Pathan/Pune

The city of Pune, Maharashtra, known for culture and modern infrastructure, is facing an acute crisis due to the rising incidents of young men and women addicted to alcohol, drugs and marijuana. However, people have decided to be open about this challenge, as thousands took to the streets of Kondhwa to raise awareness.

A grand rally to raise awareness about drug abuse was organised on Friday morning in the Muslim-majority Kondhwa area. Haji Gafur Pathan, founder of the Muslim Foundation and local corporator, led this campaign.

Thousands of school students, women, youth, Muslim community members, and others participated in this campaign.

Holding the tricolour, the participants in the rally grabbed the attention of the entire area. This awareness rally proved to be extremely crucial in bringing addicted youths back into the mainstream and boosting their self-confidence.

This mega-rally was organised jointly by the Pune Municipal Corporation, the Muslim Foundation, and the Kondhwa Police Station, signalling the changes that the cooperation between administrative machinery and social organisations can bring about.

It was interesting to see the passersby joining the procession.

Haji Gafur Pathan played a pivotal role in bringing together people from all walks of life to save their locality and the youth from the snare of addiction.

Explaining the background of this mass movement, Haji Gafur Pathan said, "Our Police Commissioner, Senior Police Inspector, and DCP Madam are all making sincere efforts for a drug-free city. Even though no untoward incidents are happening anywhere in the city, we have initiated this drug-deaddiction drive from Kondhwa."

Procession for Drugs free Pune

"For this public awareness, the Ulemas of the mosques, the younger generation, school students, and all citizens have come together in this rally. We have given this call with the firm intention of making Kondhwa drug-free."

On the unprecedented response to the campaign, he appealed to the public, "5 to 10 thousand students have gathered here, and today the entire Kondhwa has awakened. We have to banish drugs from the entire area. We have to destroy the drug cartels."

he most striking feature of this rally was the large-scale participation of young children and school students. Young boys and girls carried placards with messages that their future should remain secure, and their locality should become drug-free.

Women also came out in large numbers to show their full support for this campaign.

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The police took the opportunity to issue a stern warning against those selling narcotics. Police Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), and Senior Police Inspector are leading the campaigns against drugs in their respective areas

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