Governor launches anti-drug abuse campaign in Calicut

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has urged universities to start a campaign against drug abuse. He spoke at a Senate meeting of the University of Calicut on March 22, 2025. The meeting took place at the university's campus in Tenhipalam, Malappuram district. Governor Arlekar mentioned that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan supports this initiative. The campaign will focus on strict actions against drug abuse, awareness programs, and surveillance using advanced technology like artificial intelligence. The plan also includes rehabilitation services. During the meeting, Chancellor Arlekar and Senate members wore blazers with "Say No to Drugs" written on them. He emphasized the importance of everyone participating in this campaign. He interacted with faculty, students, and university staff to discuss their roles in this effort. In other news from the meeting, P.K. Khaleemudheen, the convener of the Syndicate Standing Committee on Finance, presented the university's budget for the upcoming year. The budget shows estimated revenue of ₹721.39 crore and estimated expenditures of ₹752.9 crore. Around ₹27 crore has been set aside for new projects. These include a convention center for 1,000 people and renovations for the C.H. Mohammed Koya Library. Other planned projects are a music school, shooting range, skating track, and beautification of the open-air auditorium celebrating the university's golden jubilee. The Senate also approved degrees for 27,214 students.