Campaign to free campuses in Ernakulam of drug menace to be launched shortly

An intensive campaign to make the campuses in Ernakulam free from the drug menace will be launched shortly. Various programmes will be undertaken on campuses across the district from August 1 to 15 as part of the campaign. The drive will be carried out in coordination with the police and Excise departments, Industries Minister P. Rajeeve has said.

The campaign will help students who have been found using drugs by providing them with medical treatment and counselling to bring them back to life. All colleges have been asked to formulate an anti-drugs policy, and the institution that comes up with the best policy and implements the anti-drugs campaign effectively will be awarded a prize, to be instituted by the District Collector.

College protection groups comprising the college principal, teachers, parents, and police and Excise officials would be formed in all colleges before July 31. Either the Station House Officer or the Excise official in the respective region would serve as the convenor of the group, Mr. Rajeeve said.

“Freshers and teachers too will be offered awareness programmes. The presence of law enforcement squads will be ensured near the campuses for half an hour before and after classes,” he said. District Collector N.S.K. Umesh, Deputy Police Commissioner Aswathi Jiji, and Excise Deputy Commissioner T.N. Sudheer attended the press conference convened to announce the programme.