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During the summer vacation, between 1 and 20 May 2007, 23,000 BAPS children and 5,050 children’s activities sanchalaks throughout India participated in the De-Addiction Campaign organized by the BAPS Children’s Wing.
The balaks and balikas were given intensive training on the message to be conveyed, presentation methods and how to cope with the possible situations they may encounter.
A total of 5,500 groups were formed, each comprising 4 to 5 balaks or balikas. Each group was assigned a 10-day schedule to contact people in their locality at their homes, offices, factories and in public places, such as, bus and railway stations, parks, tourist spots, etc.
In total, the children contacted 2,100,000 people of whom 630,000 pledged to give up their addictions to cigarettes, tobacco, masala, alcohol and other destructive habits.
To create an awareness among the public of the need to lead an addiction-free life, the children also set up exhibitions at prominent places. They also gathered large groups of people and showed a specially prepared 15-minute video entitled ‘Stop… It’s Not Yet Too Late’ showing the damaging consequences of addictions in personal, family and social life.
In major cities, thousands of children held colourful and inspiring parades to convey the message of anti-addiction.
In addition, in many places, children performed a specially scripted drama, entitled ‘Tirad’ which portrayed the personal, familial and social destruction caused by family disputes.
Many dignitaries praised the bold and brave efforts of the children, commenting that encouraging addiction-free lives will help to solve many of the problems prevalent in today’s society.
President APJ Abdul Kalam Felicitates BAPS Children For The De-Addiction Campaign, New Delhi, India
1 May to 20 May, India.
Continuing the crusade 200 years ago by Lord Swaminarayan against the vices of society, Pramukh Swami Maharaj and the sadhus have been perenially inspiring people to give up addictions. This summer a special campaign was organized by the Children's Forum through the inspiration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. From 1 May to 20 May, 10,000 members of the BAPS Children's Forum embarked upon a 20-day de-addiction campaign in Gujarat and other cities. The scorching summer heat and the challenges of personal contact did not deter them from setting out to redeem smokers and addicts from the vice-grip of addictions.
Facts and Figures
In only 20 -days children volunteers had accomplished a tremendous feat in personal contact during the campaign.
* Total boys and girls: 10,000
* Number of people contacted: 882,000
* Number of people who have given up addictions
from 882,000 contacts: 312,000
* Combined total savings of 312,000 people: Rs. 2,500,000 per day
* Cultural program seen by: 800,000
* Anti-addiction exhibition seen by: 400,000
NB: The number of people who have given up addictions during cultural program and anti-addiction exhibition are not available.
11,000 people die everyday of smoking related diseases in the world.
This growing scourge of smoking is also destroying the moral and social fabric of society. Pramukh Swami Maharaj says, "It is a purchased misery." To stem the habit, in whatever little way, the BAPS National Children's Forum launched a de-addiction campaign in Mumbai, Calcutta and major cities of Gujarat. The 20-day programme, inspired by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, was launched on 1 May. In all, 10,000 children in 2,500 groups from the ages of 9 - 14, with four children and one leader to a group, utilised their vacation period in weaning people from the vices of smoking, drinking, pan-chewing, snuff taking and drugs. The anti-addiction campaign included: (1) A personal one to one approach, (2) Cultural Program and Drama presentation, (3) Anti-addiction rally and (4) Poster exhibition. Their personal visits to homes, railway stations, offices, hospitals, diamond workshops and hut communities have evoked an array of interesting responses and experiences.
Personal Contact
To face the challenges of the mission they were trained at all local centers, armed with logical explanations and answers. The boys and girls donned in white clothes, carried a shoulder bag containing pictorial booklets and an all-in one murti. Each day they campaigned from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. They politely approached people saying, "We belong to the Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha and have been inspired by Pramukh Swami Maharaj to help people give up addictions. Do you have any addictions?" When a person took an oath, details of his habits and address were noted. After 15 days, a 5-day period was reserved for a follow-up programme.