Mangaluru: A total of 102 programmes will be organised across the city as part of the ‘Drug-Free Mangaluru’ campaign, spearheaded by the Make A Change Foundation (MACF) in collaboration with the Mangaluru city police. The campaign, which begins on December 27, aims to build a ‘Brand Mangaluru’ under the motto No Drug, No Crime, Safe Mangaluru, MACF founder and chairman Suhail Kandak announced on Monday.
The official launch will take place at the TMA Pai International Convention Centre in the presence of assembly Speaker UT Khader, Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, deputy commissioner Darshan HV, and Mangaluru city police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy. The initiative seeks to counter rising concerns about substance abuse among youth and promote a healthier, safer urban environment.
102 programmes planned across the city
The campaign will encompass 40 corner meetings where police officers and resource persons will educate young people and communities about the effects of drug abuse. The sessions will focus on awareness building, early detection of substance misuse, and the long-term social and psychological impact of narcotics.
To strengthen social participation, MACF has invited religious leaders from diverse communities to join the effort. The Bishop of Mangalore, Rev Peter Paul Saldanha, seers from the Ramakrishna Mutt, and local khazis are expected to take part, symbolising a collective stand against drug-related issues cutting across social and religious boundaries.
Student-focused awareness activities
Suhail Kandak said the campaign has been specially designed for students—from class 8 up to degree college—to equip them with the knowledge and confidence to stay away from drugs. Several state-level competitions will be held to promote creativity, critical thinking, and awareness among young participants.
The competitions include short video-making, innovation model demonstrations on drug abuse, paper presentations, fitness challenges, digital poster design, and a one-day influencer contest. The idea is to blend education with creativity, encouraging students to express their understanding of drug-related issues in impactful formats.
Public events and community involvement
To increase visibility and engagement, the campaign will feature flash mobs, music, and dance programmes at various public spaces. The fitness challenge and flash mob events will take place in prominent shopping malls, attracting large crowds and helping amplify the anti-drug message.
Awareness programmes will also be conducted at masjids, mandirs, and churches, ensuring that the outreach spans all sections of society. Organisers said that the involvement of religious spaces will help reinforce strong moral and community-based messaging against drugs.
Beena Saldanha, co-founder of the Born Again Recovery Centre, said the campaign’s key goal is to reach students during formative years and ensure they do not fall prey to drug consumption. She stressed that early awareness is essential to building resilience among youth and preventing them from engaging with narcotics.
Conclusion
With over 100 activities planned, the Drug-Free Mangaluru campaign seeks to create a city-wide movement encouraging collective responsibility and preventive action. By integrating students, police, religious leaders, educational institutions, and citizens, organisers hope to instil long-term awareness and contribute to building a safer, healthier Mangaluru.