Maharashtra: State to rope in students in its fight against drugs

Deepak Kesarkar, school education minister at the launch of Students Prahari Club at the Y B Chavan Auditorium

The Maharashtra government will be roping in the school students to curb drug and substance abuse among children. The state government has issued directions to all the schools to constitute Students Prahari Clubs. The initiative is aimed at school students as it intends to catch them young and push for a ‘Drugs-Free Mumbai'. The campaign is slated for implementation in 450 schools across Mumbai and is in alignment with the directives of the central government's ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat' campaign.'

School Education Minister and Mumbai City Guardian Minister Deepak Kesarkar on Wednesday launched this programme during an event at the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in Mumbai. Kesarkar said, "The drug menace is spreading and to put an end to it, we need to first create awareness among students. It is very important to catch them young and make them understand about the ill-effects of substance abuse."

The Students Prahari Club, comprising 10 boys and 10 girls will be constituted in government and civic run schools. These clubs will create awareness on the ill-effects of drugs and substance abuse at their respective schools. The campaign's slogan underscores its mission: "Ek Yudh, Nashe Ke Viruddh," which means one battle against addiction.