Mangaluru: Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader Fareed on Thursday called for active public participation in the fight against narcotics, stressing that law enforcement agencies alone cannot eliminate the drug menace. Urging students to play a proactive role, the minister appealed to them to share information about drug-related activities with the police and become ambassadors of awareness in their communities.

Khader was speaking after inaugurating an anti-drug awareness campaign conducted under the ‘Operation Rise’ and ‘Beda Bro’ initiatives at the Father Muller Convention Hall. The programme was jointly organised by the Mangaluru City Police and Dakshina Kannada District Police as part of ongoing efforts to create a drug-free society and prevent substance abuse among youngsters.

Students urged to support anti-drug efforts

Addressing students and officials at the event, Khader said the youth are the strongest pillar of India’s future and must be protected from the growing threat of drug addiction.

He expressed concern over the increasing influence of narcotic substances among young people and warned that addiction can destroy lives, careers and families.

“Drug abuse only harms individuals and prevents them from achieving success in life. Along with education, character-building is equally important, and that can be achieved only in a society free from drugs,” he said.

The minister encouraged students to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and report any information related to drug trafficking or consumption without fear.

According to him, public participation is essential for identifying and dismantling drug networks operating within educational institutions and society.

Mangaluru should become a model district

Khader said Mangaluru has the potential to become a model district in the fight against narcotics and urged all stakeholders to work collectively towards that goal.

He noted that Dakshina Kannada’s geographical proximity to Kerala presents unique challenges in controlling the movement of narcotic substances.

Considering the district shares a border with Kerala, the minister suggested stronger coordination between the Dakshina Kannada Police and the Kasaragod Police to curb inter-state drug trafficking and dismantle supply chains operating across state boundaries.

He said effective collaboration between neighbouring districts would strengthen enforcement efforts and improve intelligence sharing.

United effort needed to protect youth

Presiding over the programme, Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath described the campaign as an important step towards building a stronger and healthier India.

He observed that despite access to education and opportunities, many youngsters continue to fall prey to drug addiction.

Kamath alleged that anti-social elements are attempting to weaken society by targeting young people through narcotic substances.

Calling for a united response, he urged educational institutions, parents, police and health authorities to work together to prevent substance abuse among students.

The MLA also suggested greater collaboration between the Health Department, Police Department and private medical colleges in Dakshina Kannada to strengthen drug testing, awareness and prevention initiatives.

Police highlight progress in anti-drug drive

Speaking on the occasion, Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said eliminating drug-related cases entirely would remain difficult as long as demand exists among students and young people.

However, he stated that law enforcement agencies have made significant progress in tackling the problem.

According to the commissioner, the police have successfully curbed nearly 90 per cent of drug-related activities, although the remaining demand continues to create challenges.

He revealed that inspections and testing conducted this year showed that only 0.5 per cent of students tested positive for drug use.

The police department has now set a target of making 50 per cent of educational campuses drug-free by the end of the current academic year, he added.

Senior officials participate

Several senior officials and public representatives attended the programme.

Among those present were:

  • Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police Dr Arun K
  • Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Narawade Vinayak Karbhari
  • Mangaluru City Corporation Commissioner Rahul Rathnam Pandey
  • DCP (Crime and Traffic) K Ravishankar
  • CAR DCP Umesh P
  • Probationary IAS officer Archit Dongre
  • Assistant Commissioners of Police Najma Farooqui, Raveesh Nayak, Geetha Kulkarni and Vijaya Kranti

DCP (Law and Order) Mithun H N welcomed the gathering, while Anurag compered the event.

Conclusion

The anti-drug awareness campaign reinforced the need for collective action against substance abuse, with government leaders, police officials and educators emphasising the importance of community involvement. Khader’s call for students to become active partners in the fight against narcotics highlighted the government’s broader strategy of combining enforcement, awareness and prevention to protect the younger generation from drug addiction.