2-minute de-addiction pledge administered daily in all

universities and colleges

Strict ban onsale of drugs within 500 meters of educational institutions,

hostels and canteens will be inspected

Lucknow, Aug 7 (HS): With the aim of transforming Prime Minister Narendra

Modi's call for a drug-free India into a mass movement and realizing the

resolve of a developed India - developed Uttar Pradesh, an

important meeting of the registrars and examination controllers of all the

state universities was held in the Vidhan Sabha premises under the chairmanship

of Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay. In the meeting, a detailed

action plan was decided to make the drug de-addiction campaign in higher

educational institutions effective, sustainable, and result-oriented.

Addressing the meeting, Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyaya stated

that youth power is the greatest strength of a developed India. If youth are

kept away from social evils like drug addiction, the future of the state and

the country will be even stronger. He added that the Uttar Pradesh government

is working to make higher education institutions not just centers of education,

but also the foundation of culture, discipline, and nation-building. The

de-addiction campaign is an important part of this commitment.

It was decided at the meeting that students in all state and private

universities and colleges across the state will be administered a two-minute

pledge to de-addiction before the start of each working day. Public awareness

activities such as Run for De-addiction, marathons, marches,

speeches, essays, painting, plays, and street plays will be organized. Each

teacher will dedicate the last ten minutes of their period once a week to

dialogue and motivational discussions with students on the topic of

de-addiction.

Educational tours to cultural, spiritual, and inspirational sites will also be

organized to foster positive thinking and life values among students.

Hoardings, wall paintings, and social media will be used on campus and in

public places to widely publicize the campaign, and more students will be

connected to the My India portal.

To effectively monitor the campaign, the entire state has been divided into

five zones. A senior department official will be appointed as the nodal officer

for each zone. Senior nodal officers at the university level, principals at the

college level, and separate nodal officers at each faculty level will regularly

monitor the campaign.

Several tough decisions were also taken at the meeting to prevent drug abuse. A

strict ban will be enforced on the sale of any type of narcotic substance

within a 500-meter radius of all universities and colleges. Regular inspections

will be conducted in hostels, canteens, and campuses. Items received through

online delivery and courier will be checked at the entrance. Students with drug

addiction tendencies will be identified and counseled, and if necessary,

parents will be called to establish communication.

Principal Secretary of Higher Education Department MP Agarwal, MLAs Umesh

Dwivedi, Babulal Tiwari, Manvendra Singh, Chandra Sharma, Dharmendra Bhardwaj,

Arun Pathak and Hari Singh Dhillon, Avneesh Kumar and State General Secretary

Sanjay Rai along with senior departmental officers were present in the meeting.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi