Drug-free Karnataka is our aim: Home Minister Parameshwara

Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Wednesday vowed to make Karnataka drug-free and said, “We will not let Karnataka become another Punjab in terms of drugs. The public should not allow this either. Everyone should come together to build a drug-free Karnataka”.

Speaking at the Narcotics Control Bureau’s ‘Narcotics-Free India, Narcotics-Free Karnataka, Narcotics-Free Campus and Organ Donation’ campaign, organised by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) in collaboration with Dishabodh Foundation on Wednesday, he said the government has seriously considered making the State drug-free. “The Higher Education Minister will be instructed to take necessary steps to curb this at the government level,” he added.

Appreciating the efforts by the university, the Home Minister stated that to build a drug-free State, college campuses must be drug-free. “The campaign by RGUHS is an important one, and the State government will support it completely,” Dr. Parameshwara said

Further, Dr. Parameshwara directed the University to instruct all affiliated colleges under it to constitute Anti-Drug Committees. “There are over 1500 colleges under RGUHS and if any college fail to constitute anti-drug committee, then measures should be taken to withdraw their affiliation,” He stated.

Meanwhile, the Home Minister revealed that soon advertisements and awareness about drugs and narcotics will be displayed on buses operated by the government.

Taking part in the event, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao shared that the government is seriously thinking of increasing number of Organ Retrieval centres at government hospitals.

Dr. Bhagawan B.C., Vice-Chancellor of RGUHS, requested the government to establish Organ Retrieval centres at all government medical college hospitals and strengthen the already established centres.