Students, parents and teachers at Ajitha Nair Educational Trust in Kurla marked India’s 80th Independence Day with a collective Drug-Free Maharashtra pledge. Additional Commissioner of Police Dhananjay Kulkarni hoisted the National Flag, while police officials and civic representatives attended the programme. The pledge encouraged participants to avoid narcotic substances, raise awareness about their harmful effects and support prevention efforts. The initiative also highlighted the importance of families, schools, communities and law-enforcement agencies working together to protect young people from substance abuse.
Mumbai Students Take Drug-Free Maharashtra Pledge on 80th Independence Day
Students, parents, and teachers at Ajitha Nair Educational Trust in Kurla turned Independence Day into a lesson in responsibility, pledging collectively to support a drug-free Mumbai and Maharashtra.
Kurla students took a Drug-Free Maharashtra pledge during the 80th Independence Day celebration at the Ajitha Nair Educational Trust school campus, combining patriotism, education and social awareness.
The programme encouraged young participants to understand that freedom also means making responsible choices, protecting personal well-being and helping create safer, healthier communities through education and discipline.
Senior IPS officer Dhananjay Kulkarni, Additional Commissioner of Police, East Region, Mumbai, served as chief guest and hoisted the National Flag during the Independence Day ceremony.
The flag-hoisting was followed by the National Anthem and tributes to freedom fighters and martyrs whose sacrifices secured India’s independence and shaped the democratic nation students inherit today.
Meenal Sanjay Turde, corporator from Ward 166 and Chairperson of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Women and Child Welfare Committee, attended the programme alongside senior police officials.
Amit Taad, Senior Police Inspector of Vinoba Bhave Nagar Police Station, and Deepali Kulkarni, Police Inspector at the same station, were also present during the celebration.
Ajitha Nair, whose name the Trust bears, attended the event and witnessed students participating in the anti-drug pledge and cultural presentations organised for the national occasion.
Journalist Shivdinesh Sharma, a well-wisher of the Ajitha Nair Educational Trust, also attended, adding a media perspective to an event focused on education, citizenship and community awareness.
Drug-Free Maharashtra Message Reaches Students
A major feature was the anti-drug awareness pledge administered by PI Deepali Kulkarni, bringing students, parents, teachers and other participants together around prevention and responsible decision-making.
Participants pledged to stay away from narcotic substances, spread awareness about harmful effects and support collective efforts aimed at building a healthier, safer and drug-free society.
For students, the message extended beyond simply avoiding drugs; it emphasised protecting education, careers, relationships, aspirations and physical wellbeing from the consequences associated with substance abuse.
Young participants were encouraged to exercise self-discipline, resist harmful influences and seek appropriate guidance whenever they, friends or others around them encounter substance-related difficulties today.
The programme also underlined that drug prevention cannot remain solely the responsibility of police or government agencies, requiring sustained participation from families, schools, communities and citizens.
The initiative took place against the backdrop of Maharashtra’s continuing “Drug-Free Maharashtra” campaign, which encourages coordinated participation among government departments, educational institutions, law-enforcement agencies, families and communities.
School Leadership Turns Celebration Into Civic Learning
The Independence Day programme was organised under Rahul Nair, President of the Ajitha Nair Educational Trust, and Sashant Shivdasan Nair, Secretary and Headmaster of the institution.
Shariya Khan, Head Teacher of the Secondary Section, guided the cultural programme and student participation with support from teachers across the Trust’s Secondary, Primary, Pre-Primary and Jarimari sections.
The Secondary Section team included Misbah Syed, Tasmia Sayyed, Vaishali Kokare, Hannan Mansuri and Aqsa Ansari, who coordinated speeches, patriotic songs, dances, skits and stage presentations.
The Primary Section team comprised Priya Tiwari, Sharmila Mishra, Khushi Singh, Alshifa Shaikh and Tahsin Naaz, who prepared children for speeches, songs, dances, role plays and human-pyramid presentation.
The Pre-Primary Section team included Rajkumari Singh, Shama Shaikh and Nazifa Khan, who guided younger students and helped them participate confidently in the Independence Day celebration.
The Jarimari Section was coordinated by Shama Shaikh, Zoha Khan and Uzma Khan, who prepared students from the Jarimari centre for cultural and stage presentations.
Head Clerk Sangeeta Bhate provided administrative and logistical support, helping coordinate arrangements and enabling different sections to participate systematically throughout the programme.
The combined efforts of school leaders, teachers, administrative staff and supporting teams allowed students across age groups to participate, perform and learn together.
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Patriotism, Talent and Responsibility Share the Stage
Students from the Trust’s Pre-Primary, Primary and Secondary sections presented patriotic speeches, songs, dances, skits, role plays and a human-pyramid display during the celebration.
Their performances highlighted India’s freedom struggle, national unity, social harmony and civic responsibilities, while giving children opportunities to demonstrate confidence, creativity and talent before guests.
The celebration linked the meaning of independence with everyday responsibilities, encouraging students to respect the Constitution and law, preserve harmony, reject substance abuse and value education.
The presence of senior police officers, a public representative and journalist Shivdinesh Sharma created opportunities for interaction among students, educators, law-enforcement authorities, civic leadership and community stakeholders.
Such school-based programmes can help translate broad public campaigns into conversations that students understand, particularly when prevention messages are connected with their education, aspirations and daily choices.
For young people, the pledge can serve as a practical reminder that seeking guidance, supporting friends and refusing harmful influences are signs of strength rather than weakness.
The Ajitha Nair Educational Trust emphasised that national occasions can extend beyond ceremonial observances by creating awareness about challenges affecting children, families and communities.
Independence Day Pledge Looks Beyond the Ceremony
The organisers appealed to participants to carry the anti-drug pledge beyond Independence Day and practise its principles at school, at home and within neighbourhoods.
The broader message was that freedom carries responsibility, while the decisions made by today’s young citizens can influence their families, communities and Maharashtra’s future.
Choosing education, discipline and a drug-free life can help students become active partners in building safer communities, stronger institutions and a healthier Maharashtra for future generations.
The event therefore connected a historic national milestone with a contemporary social responsibility, allowing students to celebrate independence while reflecting on choices that shape their futures.
For Sprouts News, the programme represents a constructive example of how schools can use national celebrations to motivate students towards citizenship, prevention, discipline and community responsibility.
The lasting value of the initiative will depend on whether the pledge becomes everyday practice, supported by families, teachers, authorities and students themselves through continued awareness and guidance.
