This story is from May 29, 2020

Chandigarh: Look out for drug peddlers near schools, teachers told

The UT education department wants schools and teachers to keep a check on drug peddlers. In recent guidelines issued to government, government aided and private recognized schools, the department has asked all heads to form fresh committees to check drug abuse among children.
Chandigarh: Look out for drug peddlers near schools, teachers told
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CHANDIGARH: The UT education department wants schools and teachers to keep a check on drug peddlers. In recent guidelines issued to government, government aided and private recognized schools, the department has asked all heads to form fresh committees to check drug abuse among children.
The letter has been issued in compliance with Punjab and Haryana high court's order in a recent matter. The education department has further asked schools to sensitized parents of the students about the drugs abuse among children in parent-teacher meetings.
The Principals and Heads have been asked to arrange lectures by expertise to sensitize the students from time to time regarding illicit trafficking and ill-effects of drug abuse.
“The school management and teacher will encourage sensitized look out for peddlers in their vicinity and report them to police immediately,” the DEO stated in the letter.
A study in 2019 by Chandigarh commission for protection of child rights had also found that out of 161 school students they interviewed, 40% started consuming drugs between the age group of 13 and 14 years. Around 50% students were found to be consuming intoxicants such as “bhukhi”, weed, tobacco and cocaine. The study was submitted by the commission to education department in December 2019.
The school counselors of government schools said that they were already doing the needful and sensitizing the children on regular basis. The principals of government schools, especially in peripheral areas too have been keeping education department informed about the issue as and when required, sources said.
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