Chandigarh: The Centre is preparing to take its campaign against drug abuse directly into classrooms across Punjab, with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) assigned the task of educating schoolchildren and raising awareness about drug trafficking. The programme will bring NCB officials face-to-face with students in government as well as private schools, with a focus on preventing substance abuse before young people are drawn into it.
Under the initiative, students will not only receive information about the dangers of narcotics but will also be encouraged to act as an additional source of vigilance against drug-related activities. The government wants to develop a network of informed young people who can recognise attempts by traffickers to target children and report suspicious activity through appropriate channels.
The Union Ministry of Education has asked the Punjab government to ensure that schools facilitate these interactions. The campaign will be implemented with the support of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Punjab.
Campaign to cover every category of school
The outreach programme will extend beyond government institutions. District Education Officers have been instructed to coordinate with heads of government and private schools to arrange awareness sessions across their respective districts.
Private schools will also be required to organise these programmes, according to the directions communicated through SCERT Punjab. Where visits cannot be arranged because of scheduling limitations, NCB officials will conduct online interactions so that students are not left out.
Officers to explain how drug networks target youngsters
NCB Zonal Directors have been assigned roles as resource persons for different regions. During their visits, they will explain the ways in which drug traffickers attempt to attract young people through false promises, inducements and misleading approaches.
Students will also be informed about the risks associated with illicit drugs, synthetic substances and injectable narcotics. The sessions are expected to highlight the impact of substance abuse on physical health, mental well-being and the future of young people.
Saying no to drugs will be a key lesson
The programme will place particular emphasis on peer pressure, which officials identify as one of the factors that can push children towards their first experience with drugs.
Through direct interaction, NCB personnel will guide students on how to respond when friends or acquaintances encourage them to experiment with substances. Building confidence to refuse such offers and seek help when necessary will form an important part of the awareness drive.
Confidential reporting facility planned for students
The Centre also intends to use the campaign to strengthen information-sharing against drug traffickers. Students will be encouraged to alert authorities if they come across credible information about drug distribution or suspicious activities.
To protect young informants, the NCB has indicated that the identities of children providing information will remain confidential. A dedicated mechanism is proposed on the bureau’s portal, narcoticsindia.nic.in, to facilitate the sharing of such information.
By combining classroom education with awareness about trafficking networks, the Centre aims to make prevention a central part of its anti-drug campaign in Punjab. The broader objective is to protect the younger generation from addiction while building awareness about the role communities can play in tackling the drug menace.
