Telangana Launches Anti-Drug Committees in Schools and Colleges to Combat Campus Substance Abuse
The Telangana government has announced a statewide initiative to establish anti-drug and safety committees in all schools, colleges, and other educational institutions, as part of a comprehensive plan to make campuses drug-free. Director General of Police C.V. Anand made the announcement on Wednesday after chairing a review meeting with officials of the EAGLE Force, a specialised enforcement unit.
Under the proposed framework, each educational institution will be required to appoint a campus safety coordinator responsible for overseeing student safety, implementing anti-drug awareness programmes, providing counselling services, and coordinating with parents and local police. The EAGLE Force presented a draft structure outlining the committees' responsibilities, implementation methods, and monitoring mechanisms.
Mr. Anand directed officials to incorporate feedback from the Education Department, experts, and other concerned departments before finalising the standard operating procedures and regulatory guidelines. He emphasised that educational institutions must adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs, and warned that strict action would be taken against institutions found facilitating or ignoring drug-related activities. In severe cases, authorities may recommend cancellation of the institution's recognition.
Other proposed measures include mandatory anti-drug awareness programmes during student admissions, deployment of psychologists and counsellors on campuses, increased parental involvement, and sustained awareness campaigns. The DGP instructed the Police, Education, and Health departments to collaborate on the anti-drug strategy. A further review meeting will be held before the proposal is submitted to the state government for final approval.
The initiative comes amid growing concerns over drug abuse among students in Telangana. According to recent reports, the state has witnessed a rise in cases of substance use in educational institutions, prompting law enforcement to adopt preventive measures. The proposed committees aim to create a safer learning environment by addressing both supply and demand sides of drug abuse through strict enforcement and educational outreach.
Civic and rights groups have welcomed the move, though some have stressed the need for rehabilitation-focused approaches alongside punitive measures. The government has not yet announced a timeline for the implementation of the committees, but has indicated that the process will begin once the standard operating procedures are finalised.
