Odisha Makes Anti-Drug Declaration Mandatory For Admission To Universities, Colleges

Bhubaneswar: After anti-ragging affidavit, students in Odisha will now have to sign anti-drug declaration forms during admission to higher educational institutions (HEIs) — public universities, government and non-government aided colleges (both technical and general).

This was informed by the Higher Education department to the institutions on Tuesday.

This followed a direction from University Grants Commission (UGC) to HEIs to take action in order to keep a check on drug addiction, which has become a major challenge with numerous cases of youngsters getting addicted to substance abuse. “An anti-drug declaration at the time of admission can be taken to invoke a commitment from the students to have responsible behaviour during studies,” it said, adding that it is to be implemented under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s Nasha Mukta Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA).

In a letter to School & Mass Education Department, Higher Education Department, Skill Development & Technical Education Department, and Health Department, Principal Secretary Bishnupada Sethi noted that students and youth are particularly vulnerable to the menace of substance use. “More than 3.3 crore youth have participated in the activities organised under NMBA and have spread the message against substance use. A joint meeting was organised on 30.05.2023 and chaired by Secretaries of both Departments i.e., Higher Education and Social Justice and Empowerment, and the action points for higher educational institutions were decided,” he said.

An anti-drug declaration form devised by the Ministry is to be signed by the students at the time of admission, he added.

The declaration prohibits the students from carrying, selling and consuming not just drugs but also tobacco products and alcohol within their campuses. Besides, students are expected to report to the HEI authorities of any instances of drug/alcohol/tobacco consumption and sale by any student or staff on the premises or nearby.

The HEIs, on their part, have been asked to sensitise students on substance use prevention regularly through their faculty members, NSS volunteers and student clubs. The institutions may create common clubs with various activities related to ragging prevention and non-use of substances.

Around 5,263 youths in 50 HEIs have so far been covered under the programme in the state.