Bhubaneswar: In a bid to combat use of narcotic substances among youth, the Odisha government is chalking out a comprehensive plan to make all college and university campuses in the state free from drugs.
As part of the plan, an anti-drug inspector will be appointed in every college and university to monitor and curb drug-related activities, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said on Thursday.
He said a faculty member from each higher educational institution will be assigned the responsibility of handling the anti-drug drive across the state.
A campaign will soon be launched to raise awareness and preventive action against drug abuse in educational institutions. The initiative will be carried out in line with the guidelines recently issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to create drug-free campuses nationwide, the Minister said.
As part of the campaign, colleges and universities will conduct week-long activities, including discussions, yoga sessions, physical fitness programmes, and awareness drives promoting healthy and nutritious food habits. A faculty member will be designated in each institution to oversee these activities.
Stating that the government will intensify awareness among the students in this regard, the Minister said the UGC has already taken steps to establish drug-free campuses across the country.
This move is aimed at ensuring a healthy, disciplined, and safe environment for students in Odisha’s higher education institutions.
It may be recalled that the state government had in July this year directed all colleges under the Higher Education Department to launch awareness campaigns to make campuses drug-free zones.
The department, in a letter, had asked principals of all government and aided non-government colleges across the state to take proactive steps in sensitising students and the wider community on the dangers of drug and narcotic substance abuse.
