Mangaluru kids echo Kalam’s thoughts at vision 2020 elocution event

October 15, 2015

Mangaluru, Oct 15: “The time for debates and discussions are over and it is now time to act. We need to take the first step. Will you join me. It is time to dream and see that the same is realised,” exhorted the tenth standard Kripa Rasquinha of St. Gerosa School in her prize winning elocution at Vision 2020, inter-school elocution event held at Lions Seva Mandir in the city on Thursday.
The event was organized by Centre for Integrated Learning in association with Lions Club Mangalore and Department of Public Instruction, Dakshina Kannada district to mark the birth anniversary of former president Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam.
Sixty-two students from 25 schools from in and around the city echoed the thoughts of Kalam where they eloquently put forward their opinions both in Kannada and English about “Our Role in Realising Kalam’s Vision 2020” which was the topic for the elocution event.
Distributing the prizes of the event, Chief Executive Officer of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat, P I Sreevidya reminisced her childhood days as a speaker and her tryst with books that helped her evolve as a good human being. It is not important what profession one chooses but it is very important to become good human beings, she remarked. Terming Kalam as a role model for every Indian, she mentioned that our former president is not great because he was a good scientist, academician or administrator, but was a good human being.
Nonagenarian Joe Gonzalves, who has been recently designated as the Chief Traffic Warden of Mangalore City called on the students to muster courage to grow up as responsible citizens so as to transform the society. He said that students can play a significant role in nation building.
Executive Director of Centre for Integrated Learning, Sachitha Nandagopal welcomed the gathering and Lions Club Mangalore Secretary Monappa Shetty proposed the vote of thanks. Lioness Club President Hema Rao was present on the occasion. Ahima Shetty compeered the valedictory function.
The day long deliberation was inaugurated by Senior Journalist Chidambar Baikampady in presence of Lions Club President Aravind Shenoy, journalist Pushparaj Shetty, Creative Director of Tarjini Creations Bharati Shevgoor and Professor at University College Suhasini Srinivas.
Prize Winners of Vision 2020
Kannada : I – Smrithi Shetty (Sharada Vidyalaya), II – Harsha (St. Ann’s School), III – Karthik (Vidya Jyothi School) ; English : I – Priya Rasquinha (St. Gerosa High School), II – Ashlyn Pinto (St. Agnes School), III – Reesha Shenoy (St. Ann’s)

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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