By Matters India Reporter
Mangaluru, Aug 12, 2023: The diocese of Mangalore on August 12 kicked off a one-month intensive campaign against drug abuse in its parishes and educational institutions.
Inaugurating the campaign at Bishop’s House, Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha of Mangalore said drug abuse and alcoholism pose a serious threat to the diocese, especially among youths. Several cases have come to light where drugs laced with chocolates, biscuits and other food products were sold to school children.
The bishop has developed a 40-member resource team of professionals to carry out awareness campaigns in the diocese and offer counseling services to the affected ones.
“Not only the children and youths, but also their parents have to be sensitized about this menace,” the prelate said in his message to the resource team.
Mangaluru, a port city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, is an educational hub with students from all over India and overseas studying for various professional courses. Recently, several students, including medicos, were booked by the police for drug use and peddling.
The pastoral council of the diocese organized the training of trainers in association with the Teleoca rehab and the Ecolink Institute in Mangaluru.
Thomas Scaria, director of Ecolink Institute, was the key trainer, assisted by Clara D’Cunha from Teleoca and Ida D’Souza, a social activist. The resource team will carry out a series of awareness camps in parishes and educational institutions in the coming months.
John D’Silva, the president of the pastoral council, and Louis Pinto, a philanthropist, coordinated the event.