Bhatkal: Veerendra Heggade, the Dharmadhikari (spiritual head) of Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district, stated during his visit to Murdeshwar on Tuesday morning that no form of coercion or oath-taking in the name of God is used to make participants quit alcohol in Dharmasthala’s de-addiction camps. Instead, a change in mindset and inner transformation is encouraged to help individuals overcome addiction.
He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the valedictory ceremony of the 2016 Alcohol De-addiction Camp held at the Sri Raghaveshwara Hayvaka Sabha Bhavan in Murdeshwar. The programme was jointly organised by Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Trust (SKDRDP), Akhila Karnataka Jana Jagruti Vedike, and local organisations.
Heggade said that a person who fails to control his five senses eventually becomes a slave to some form of addiction or harmful habit. “During our eight-day de-addiction camp, we awaken the participants’ moral and spiritual consciousness and guide them through mental transformation to free themselves from addiction,” he said. He also expressed hope that those who complete the camp would not fall back into alcohol consumption and would instead lead a dignified and disciplined life.
On the occasion, he mentioned that if state minister Mankal Vaidya provides suitable land, a memorial dedicated to Rani Chennabhairadevi—who once ruled Bhatkal and Honnavar—would soon be constructed.
State Minister Mankal Vaidya, speaking at the event, said that the SKDRDP is undertaking many initiatives that the government itself should have been doing. He credited Dharmasthala Trust for liberating rural communities from exploitative systems such as private moneylenders and “meter interest.” He assured that he would continue to extend full support to all social welfare activities of the trust.
The programme was also addressed by Chandrashekar Gowda, honorary president of the de-addiction camp committee; Satish Shet, president; Nataraj, president of Akhila Karnataka Jana Jagruti Vedike; SKDRDP director Vivek Pais; and Anand Soorna.
Among those present were Bailur Gram Panchayat president Krishna Naik, Block Congress president Venkatesh Naik, senior journalist Radhakrishna Bhat, district Jana Jagruti Vedike member Raju Naik, and S.S. Kamath.