Blurb: Minister said the nation’s future depends on its youth, and only physically and mentally healthy youngsters can contribute to the country’s progress.
Mysuru
Urban Development Minister and Mysuru-Chamarajanagar District In-charge Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah said building a drug-free society requires the active participation of young people, stressing that the responsibility cannot rest solely with the government and police.
He was inaugurating an anti-drug awareness programme organised jointly by the Mysuru City Police and the NSS Unit of Teresian College. Addressing students,
Yathindra noted that drug abuse is no longer confined to urban areas but has spread to rural regions as well.
He called for regular anti-drug awareness campaigns in schools and colleges and encouraged the public to report incidents of drug trafficking or consumption through the official toll-free helpline. He also said the government plans to establish free rehabilitation centres where people affected by addiction can receive counselling and medical treatment instead of being treated as criminals.
Narasimharaja MLA Tanveer Sait said the time has come to collectively work towards building an addiction-free society. He observed that many young people are ruining their lives by falling prey to drugs for temporary pleasure, despite being the country’s greatest asset.
He warned that drug addiction can lead to depression, mental illness and premature death, while also causing financial hardship and emotional suffering for families. Addiction, he said, often contributes to rising crime and weakens the nation’s development by diverting the energy of its youth.
Mysuru City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar said the police have launched the ‘RISE’ and ‘Beda Bro’ awareness campaigns as part of Karnataka’s vision of achieving a drug-free state by 2028. She noted that the district has been working continuously over the past year to curb drug abuse, with special focus on students.
She cautioned that curiosity often leads young people to experiment with drugs, eventually resulting in addiction. To prevent this, anti-drug committees have been made mandatory in colleges across the district to strengthen awareness and early intervention.
The programme was attended by Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladandi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dr Harsha Priyamvada, DCP (Crime and Traffic) K.S. Sundar Raj, Teresian College Director Rev. Dr Sister Prapulla, Manager Rev. Sister Anjali, faculty members and students.
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The State Government and the Police Department have launched several initiatives and intensified enforcement to eliminate drug abuse, with the goal of making Karnataka a drug-free state.