RAJOURI, Dec 3: Noted civil society leader, advocate, and honorary patron of the National Development Foundation, Rajiv Kumar Khajuria, engaged with children and adolescents in the Doongi block of Rajouri and strongly urged them to embrace sports and healthy activities while firmly saying no to drugs. He spoke after the National Development Foundation (NDF), in partnership with UNICEF India, distributed sports equipment to children and adolescents in the Sawani, Chatyar, and Doongi areas of Rajouri district. Khajuria formally handed over the sports kits in the presence of NDF team members Amit Sharma and Sahil Singh. Besides the children’s and adolescents’ groups in the three villages, sports materials were also provided to Government Higher Secondary School Doongi, Government High School Sawani, and Government Middle School Chatyar for the benefit of the schoolchildren and the wider village community.

The programme was attended by the Principal, Government Higher Secondary School Doongi, Mr. Sajad Malik; Headmaster, Government High School Sawani, Mr. Ghulam Abbas; and Head of Institution, Government Middle School Chatyar, along with community representatives Mr. Ravi Jandiyal and Mr. Madan Sharma.

Rajiv Khajuria further educated children and adolescents about the child rights framework and the constitutional guarantees protecting children’s rights to survival, development, protection, and participation. He encouraged the children to steer clear of alcohol and drugs. He urged them to contact the police immediately on the helpline number 112 if they encounter or know of anyone involved in drug peddling, assuring them that their identities would remain confidential.

Mr Khajuria also highlighted mechanisms for child protection and advised the participants to dial the 24/7 Child Helpline 1098 if they come across any child in need of care and protection.