In a heartfelt address on World Suicide Prevention Day, Odisha’s Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj underscored the invaluable worth of every human life, urging society to foster positive thinking and mutual support to combat the rising tide of suicides.
“Every life is precious. Today, on the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day, the ‘Jibana Jindabad’ program is being organised at Kalinga Stadium,” said Minister Suraj. “The initiative aims to encourage individuals not to entertain suicidal thoughts in any circumstance and to maintain a positive mindset in life. If, in any weak moment, we can convince ourselves with determination and address every problem head-on, we can eradicate the scourge of suicide from our society.”
He further emphasised collective responsibility: “This is not just about ourselves, but also about helping those around us who may be breaking down or succumbing to sorrow. We must support them, promote positive mental attitudes, and raise awareness on suicide prevention. Today, let us all pledge to act as life savers for one another.”
The state-level awareness event, titled ‘Jibana Jindabad’, was organised by the Naman Foundation in collaboration with the Sports and Youth Services Department and Odisha Police. Held at the iconic Kalinga Stadium, the program was coordinated by Naman Foundation’s Vice President and renowned Odia film actor Sabyasachi Mishra.
Highlights of the event included performances by students from the Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya (Music and Drama College), who presented an awareness-focused short play titled ‘Jibana Jindabad’ and a dance drama ‘Atmahatya Kar Nahin’ (Don’t Commit Suicide). Additionally, the theme song ‘Jeevan Jindabad’, composed by Naman Foundation’s President and acclaimed musician Prem Anand, was unveiled to resounding applause.
The program featured an oath-taking ceremony led by Minister Suraj, where participants vowed to prioritise mental health and support those in distress. An interactive session followed, with the minister fielding questions from attendees. Para athlete Kamalakant Nayak also joined, sharing inspiring insights from his own journey of overcoming struggles to achieve success, reinforcing the message of resilience.
Prominent dignitaries in attendance included Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, Police Commissioner S. Devdutt Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Sports and Youth Services Department Sachin Ramchandra Yadav, Director Dr. Yedula Vijay, and CEO of Odisha Hockey Promotion Council Deepankar Mahapatra.
The event served as a powerful reminder of the need for community-driven efforts to address mental health challenges, aligning with global calls for suicide prevention.
