Bhubaneswar: In a significant move in eradicating substance abuse in educational institutions, the Odisha government has now made it mandatory for students to sign an anti-drug declaration while taking admissions to colleges and universities in the state.
Recently, Bishnupada Sethi, Principal Secretary to the Government of Odisha, wrote to the Higher Education Department, School & Mass Education Department, Skill Development & Technical Education Department, and the Health Department in this regard.
According to the anti-drug declaration, all students “shall refrain from using, being under the influence of, possessing, furnishing, distributing, selling or conspiring to sell or possess, or being in the chain of sale or distribution of alcohol/ tobacco/ any psychoactive substances within the premises of the institute/ university or during any sponsored activities by the institute/ university”.
A few days back, the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) implemented the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan to reduce the demand for drugs in the country. The programme coordinates and monitors all aspects of drug abuse, prevention, assessment of the extent of the problem, prevention action, treatment and rehabilitation of drug users, dissemination of information, and public awareness.
It has developed the declaration form and advised institutions to create common clubs with various activities relating to ragging and non-use of substances following safety measures.
Keeping the above in view, the state government has decided to make signing the anti-drug declaration mandatory for college and university students at the time of admission.
