Odisha Govt Makes Anti-Drug Declaration Mandatory for Students Taking Admission to Colleges, Universities

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has made it mandatory for students to sign an anti-drug declaration while taking admissions to colleges and universities in the State.

The step is being taken to eradicate substance abuse in educational institutions.

In a letter to the School & Mass Education Department, Higher Education Department, Skill Development & Technical Education Department, and Health Department, Bishnupada Sethi, Principal Secretary to Government, said that “The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has communicated a D.O letter 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 organized under NMBA and have spread the message against substance use. A joint meeting was organized on 30.05.2023 and chaired by Secretaries of both Departments i.e., Higher Education and Social Justice and Empowerment, and the action points for higher educational institutions were decided, the letter reads.

“An Anti-Drug Declaration form devised by the Ministry is to be signed by the students at the time of admission,” it said.

As per the declaration, the students “shall refrain from using, being under the influence of, possessing, furnishing, distributing, selling or conspiring to sell or possess, or being in the chain of sale or distribution of alcohol/ tobacco/ any psychoactive substances within the premises of the institute/ university or during any sponsored activities by the institute/ university, the letter added.