The Office of Dean – Student Welfare, Discipline & Equity Group, Student Welfare Group, NSS Unit of St Joseph Engineering College (SJEC) in collaboration with Mangaluru City Police, Dr. Thunga’s Manaswini Hospital, Arkula, Farangipete, organized an Anti-Drug Awareness Program for 3rd Year BE students of SJEC on Tuesday, 19 August 2025, at 10:30 am in the Kalam Auditorium.
The Chief guest for the program was Ms Vijayakranti, KSPS, ACP, Mangalore City Police. Mr Arun Kumar, PSI, Mangaluru Rural Police Station, Mr Maruthi P, PSI, Mangaluru South Police Station, Dr Survesh Kumar, MBBS, DNB, Psychiatry of Consultant Psychiatrist Community Services & Academic Programs, Dr. Thunga’s Manaswini Hospital, Ms Shashikala, Counsellor & Co-ordinator of Community Services and Academic Programs, Dr. Thunga’s Manaswini Hospital were the guests of honour. Rev. Fr Wilfred Prakash D’Souza, Director, SJEC presided over the program. Dr Rio D’Souza, Principal, SJEC, Dr Purushotama Chippar, Vice Principal - SJEC, and Dr K. Jyothi, Dean – Student Welfare, SJEC were the other dignitaries for the program. The dignitaries were escorted onto the dais by Ms Olivia Sequeira, Dr Saumya Y M and Ms Prathibha K N, Coordinators of the program.
The programme commenced with an invocation by the SJEC college choir. The Principal floraly welcomed the dignitaries. Dr K. Jyothi welcomed the dignitaries and the gathering. She emphasized that the program was to create awareness of the dangers of substance abuse and to empower the students to make wise choices, equipped with knowledge, courage, and conviction to build a drug-free society. The dignitaries on the dais formally inaugurated the program by lighting the lamp. Mr Arun Kumar addressed the students on drug abuse and how it affects the society. He appreciated the management of SJEC for organizing this programme. He said there are 2,000 varieties of drugs used by the youth today, and prevention of the menace is the need of the hour. He requested the students to report on the drug peddlers to help the police and society. Mr Maruthi P carried out a ppt presentation on ‘Drug abuse and way forward’. He mentioned the various stages of drug abuse. The contents of his presentation were on different types of synthetic drugs in the market, the NDPS Act 1985, Contemporary trends, remedies, and a way out. He stressed on the penalties and the sections imposed for drug users and for harboring the offenders.
The chief guest Ms Vijayakranti motivated the student to live high on a dream or a goal or on life instead of being high on drugs. She said present students are more vulnerable to consuming drugs and should prioritize keeping drugs at bay. She also spoke on cybercrime and cautioned everyone to keep their data private. She made the students aware of cyber slavery when they look for jobs in foreign countries after their graduation. She mentioned the students should remember these two important numbers i.e., cyber fraud number - 1930 and emergency police number – 112.
The Principal cautioned the students on the adversities of drug use, which begins with a single initiative and thought process that we live only once, and there is a need to try everything in life, which is not a good preposition for our youth today. The students underestimate the risk involved and fall prey to this menace. There are so many avenues students can venture into instead of trying drugs, as our country is transforming into a superpower nation. He administered the anti-drug pledge to the students.
Dr Survesh Kumar carried out a ppt presentation on anti-drug awareness. He shared his 15 years of experience with drug addicts and rehab programmes. He said about the process of how the hormone dopamine is produced in humans and how drug addicts seek it for instant happiness. He mentioned the organized crime done by the drug users, and the starting age is as early as 10 – 12 years.
The program was concluded by giving a memento to all the dignitaries as a token of gratitude. The vote of thanks was delivered by Ms Olivia Sequeira, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Head – DEG group. The programme was compered by Ms Swathi B and Aarshamol Babu Varghese, 3rd year B.E students of SJEC.
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