Chennai: Head constable S Raja spends his working hours tackling criminals and when he's off duty, he's busy helping smokers kick the habit.
The constable has made it his mission to counsel and help addicts free themselves from their addiction to cigarettes, alcohol and chewing tobacco after he lost a number of friends to cancer. "My own father died early as he was addicted to drugs," he said. "So I resolved to help people quit these bad habits." He's not sure how many people he's helped in the last few years but he says it would probably be nearly 1,000.
The 45-year-old constable talks to people who stand smoking at roadside shops. "I talk to people aged 15 to 60, telling them about the ills of smoking," he said.
"Most people don't realise how much tobacco and alcohol affect their health. They feel it helps them but it actually ruins them," he said the 45-year-old constable. "One cigarette contains 1.8 micrograms of nicotine. It's enough to kill if it was injected directly," he said. Raja, who failed class 10, recently received his bachelor's degree in psychology through distance education at the University of Madras.
He said the police uniform has given him a certain status in society and people take his advice more seriously.
Raja said 75% of the city's police personnel are addicted to tobacco or alcohol. "Drivers are especially susceptible as they spend a lot of time waiting around. I think police personnel fall victim to addiction due to free availability of substances," Raja said. He has bought more then 100 books for drivers so that they spend their waiting time reading instead of smoking.
A number of people in the department have started calling Raja for free counselling. "I was suspended twice because of my alcohol addiction but my entire life has changed after I met Raja," said a 35-year-old policeman.
Raja counsels at least four people a day and has been asked to counsel groups of police officers. He has been sounded out for a posting in the special cell the Chennai police is creating to handle de-addiction. Raja also has plans to hold a bike rally to create awareness about addiction
The constable has made it his mission to counsel and help addicts free themselves from their addiction to cigarettes, alcohol and chewing tobacco after he lost a number of friends to cancer. "My own father died early as he was addicted to drugs," he said. "So I resolved to help people quit these bad habits." He's not sure how many people he's helped in the last few years but he says it would probably be nearly 1,000.
"Most people don't realise how much tobacco and alcohol affect their health. They feel it helps them but it actually ruins them," he said the 45-year-old constable. "One cigarette contains 1.8 micrograms of nicotine. It's enough to kill if it was injected directly," he said. Raja, who failed class 10, recently received his bachelor's degree in psychology through distance education at the University of Madras.
He said the police uniform has given him a certain status in society and people take his advice more seriously.
A number of people in the department have started calling Raja for free counselling. "I was suspended twice because of my alcohol addiction but my entire life has changed after I met Raja," said a 35-year-old policeman.
Raja counsels at least four people a day and has been asked to counsel groups of police officers. He has been sounded out for a posting in the special cell the Chennai police is creating to handle de-addiction. Raja also has plans to hold a bike rally to create awareness about addiction
