Dehradun District Magistrate Ravinath Raman released a promotional DVD on narcotics control at the Collectorate on Wednesday. The DM reviewed the progress of the national narcotic control programme with the district task force authorities.
He said that district tobacco control cell, education department, health department, village development department, police department, food safety and drug control and other departments should establish coordination to prevent consumption of drugs, tobacco, pan masala and others which are harmful for the heath at their levels. The education department officers were directed to ensure that students are informed about ill- effects of tobacco items during the prayer in their schools. Besides, a warning sign board about the same at the main gate of the schools should be installed.
DM stressed on the school principals being directed to be alert in the neighbourhood where tobacco items are sold. Apart from this, CCTV cameras should be installed within the school campuses and the security guards should also be there to stop the narcotics from sneaking into the campuses, he said. He also said that meetings of the parents- teachers association should be held from time to time to discuss matters of preventing the students from consuming the tobacco items. Students should be made aware about ‘ill effects of tobacco and control on tobacco’ in their computer labs through promotional CDs.
He directed the district panchayatraj officers to discuss various issues like tobacco control, sanitation, heath, women and children development during the open meetings of the gram sabha.
Besides, the entertainment officers were asked to ensure that cinema hall operators telecast films on legal warning of tobacco in between running movie. District tobacco control cell officer Dr Anuradha was directed to install banner or posters highlighting tobacco control and its ill- effects at public places like railway stations, bus stations, parks and other places. The public awareness rally should be conducted where consumption of tobacco is the maximum, DM added. Others present on the occasion were chief development officer Banshidhar Tiwari, SP( Crime) Tripti Bhatt, chief medical officer Dr YS Thapliya, district panchayatraj officer M Zafar Khan and health officer YS Chauhan.