Sri Vijaya Puram, Apr 19: A Sensitization Programme on “Drug Prevention, Suicide Awareness and Mental Well-being” was jointly organised by the Andaman and Nicobar State Legal Services Authority (ANSLSA) and JNRM in the Lecture Gallery on 18th April 2026. The programme was attended by Mr. Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya, Judge of the High Court at Calcutta, serving concurrently as Zonal Judge for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Executive Chairman of ANSLSA, and Justice Smita Das De, Judge of the High Court at Calcutta along with distinguished guests and resource persons.
In his address, Mr. Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya urged students to pursue their ambitions with self-discipline, to build good habits, and to remain connected to people outside the digital world. He also cautioned that the digitally connected Generation Z faces a particular kind of disconnection from real relationships. He called on students to develop their capacity to deal with day-to-day difficulties. Senior Advocate Mr. D.C. Kabir in his address recounted cases from his own experience as defence lawyer and talked about the stringent laws around narcotics and suicide. He made an appeal to the students to avoid substance abuse.
Dr. Pooja Govind, Psychiatrist, ANIIMS, gave a national picture on drug abuse and shared key statistics on substance use in these islands. Earlier welcoming the gathering, Dr. Pearl Devdas, Principal, JNRM shared about the various initiatives taken by the college for mental health and prevention of drug abuse in the campus and hostels.
An interactive session was also held and students raised various concerns around substance abuse and these were answered by the experts. In a symbolic gesture befitting the occasion, both Justices participated in a sapling-planting ceremony on the college grounds before proceeding to the Lecture Gallery. More than 250 students from different departments along with faculty members participated in the program. The vote of thanks was delivered by Mr. Samrat Roy, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority.
