Don’t hide information of your children’s drug addiction, help fight the menace: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar

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Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar appealed to parents of children who are addicted to narcotics to not hide information fearing societal stigma, but to take the police into confidence and help the State root out the menace. “Seek help to get your children out of addiction, we will help you. The information will help us fight the menace. I will instruct police officials to keep the names of your children confidential,” he said, adding that those who provide information regarding drug peddlers will be rewarded.

He was speaking at the Karnataka State Police’s event to mark International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking-2026, after launching two awareness campaigns — ‘Operation RISE’ and ‘Beda Bro’ — to fight the menace. He said his government aimed to make Karnataka free of narcotics by 2028. “This cannot be achieved by the police alone, but is possible only when society at large, youth, students, parents and educational institutions join hands,” he said.

Operation RISE, an acronym for Refuse, Inform, Support and Empower, seeks to encourage young people to refuse drugs, spread awareness about the harmful effects of narcotics, promote counselling and rehabilitation services, and involve families, educational institutions and communities in early intervention.

The initiative brings together multiple government departments, including the Police, Revenue, Transport, Higher Education, Medical Education, Health and Family Welfare, and the Drugs Controller, to jointly strengthen enforcement, monitor illegal drug activities, conduct awareness programmes and improve rehabilitation services.

The government also launched the Beda Bro campaign, a youth-centric awareness programme aimed at discouraging substance abuse through simple, relatable messaging. The campaign will focus on educating young people about the physical, mental, social and legal consequences of drug abuse while encouraging healthy alternatives such as sports, education and skill development.

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