In an attempt to prevent the consumption and use of drugs and narcotics and to curb its increasing side effects among students, the School Education and Literacy Department of the State government has decided to run a comprehensive awareness campaign against drugs. From June 18 to June 25, the campaign will be conducted in all categories of government, non- government aided, non- aided, minority and private schools of the State.
In this regard, a one- day orientation program was organised at the Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) on June 13. Secretary in- charge School Education and Literacy Department Umashankar Singh, Jharkhand Education Project Director Aditya Ranjan, Superintendent of Narcotics Control Bureau S Shariq Omar, Group Commandant of NCC Col Rajeev Kumar, Psychiatrist cum De- Addiction Specialist of Medanta Hospital Pawan Kumar Barnwal, District Education Officers of all districts District Education Superintendents Nodal Officers of Education Department of all districts District Sports Officer, health officer, police officer and representatives of social and non- governmental organisations participated in the event.
During the orientation program, Secretary-in-charge of School Education and Literacy Department of Jharkhand Government, Umashankar Singh emphasised on training teachers of classes 9 to 12 and principals of schools at district level against intoxication. He advised on preparing a curriculum for this or also for teachers to play the role of counsellor. In his address, Singh said that one- to- one intervention is necessary to make students and adolescents aware against drug abuse and that any change in the behaviour of the child and the reason for it should be monitored at the school level. He also elaborated on the role of Bal Sansad and SMC members in the campaign against drug abuse.
Jharkhand Education Project Director Aditya Ranjan said that if drugs are consumed or sold around schools, action will be taken against the school. He said that it is the responsibility of the teachers of more than 35000 schools in the state to ensure that no one is involved in such anti-social activities and only if they remain alert, students can be saved from drug abuse. He directed the BRP/CRP to list such schools around which there is suspicion of sale or consumption of narcotics and emphasised that the role of every department- education, health, child welfare, NGO, police department or experts in this field is important for the success of this campaign.
Addressing the program, Superintendent of Narcotics Control Bureau, S Shariq Omar said that NCB is continuously running a campaign in the State and so far 104 kg of narcotics have been seized. Omar shared important information citing the United Nations Charter and Conventions and said that such intoxicating drinks which directly affect the brain are called narcotics drugs. He also expressed concern over the compulsive use of drugs in Chatra, Khunti and Ranchi districts of Jharkhand,
Group Commandant of NCC (National Cadet Corps) Col. Rajiv Kumar highlighted the role of NCC in Jharkhand and said that NCC covers 12 out of 24 districts of Jharkhand. As many as 14 lakh children are involved in NCC from across the country and through this they have developed qualities like humility and self-control. He also stated that NCC is spread over 9 units in 12 districts of Jharkhand.
As a part of the awareness campaign against drugs, various activities from June 18 to June 22 will be conducted in all schools across Jharkhand. This will include quiz competition, poster making competition and essay writing competition. A Prabhat Pheri will be organised on June 22 after which there will be speech, slogan making and painting competition in the school. Cycle rally will be organised on June 24 and awareness messages will be read in prayer meetings June 25. On June 26, observed as World Drug Prevention Day, sankalp and prize distribution ceremony will be organised.
