Bhubaneswar: With an aim to ensure college students stay away from drugs, Principal Secretary, Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Bishnupada Sethi asked all higher education students to sign anti drug declaration forms during admission.
Shri Sethi has recently written to Secretaries of Higher Education, School & Mass Education, Skill Development & Technical Education and Health & Family Welfare Departments for this purpose.
He has written this letter following an advisory of the Ministry of Social justice & Empowerment regarding implementation of Nasha Mukta Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) for Drug – Demand Reduction in the country.
“The 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,” Shri Sethi said.
As per decision taken at a high-level meeting all higher education students have to sign an Anti Drug Declaration form at the time of admission. This will pave the way for making a Nasha Mukt Bharat, he added.
After receiving the letter from the SSEPD Principal Secretary, the Higher Education Department has instructed heads of all Public Universities and Colleges to take necessary action in this regard.
Earlier, Shri Sethi, who is the Chairman of State Nasha Mukta Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) Committee, had directed police and concerned officials to ensure strict implementation of a ban on sale of cigarettes within 100 meters of any educational institution in the State.
He directed for strict implementation of cigarette ban order and visits to the institutions, hospitals for assessment of preparedness and implementation.
