Mita Mukherjee
Students of universities and colleges belonging to various groups have welcomed the recent directive of University Grants Commission (UGC) that asks heads of higher education institutions to get their students pledge against consumption of drug and substance abuse, but students are of the opinion that the menace cannot be eradicated by only taking a declaration against use of drugs.
Tightening up surveillance on all sources and chains from where students get the drugs, taking strict action against carriers and stricter rules to prevent entry of drugs on campuses and tuition centres are more important to stop the practice.
Extensive counselling and awareness programmes on drug and substance abuse and their ill effects involving students as well as parents are also needed to be taken for preventing students from indulging in the practice.
In line with the objectives of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan of the ministry of social justice and empowerment of the centre, the UGC recently issued a letter to all universities and higher education institutions to ask their students to pledge against drug and substance abuse.
“An anti-drug declaration by the student at the time of admission can be taken to invoke a commitment from the students to have responsible behaviour during studies……..” the letter read. A proforma of the students’ declaration has been also attached with the letter where the students will have to declare, “I shall refrain from using, being under the influence of, possessing, furnishing, selling of conspiring to sell, 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……”.
Rishav Saha, a second year postgraduate student of Presidency University described the initiative as ” good” and they are also not opposed to students being asked to give anti-drug declaration during admission.
“We don’t support drug or substance, abuse on campuses. The initiative of the UGC is good and we welcome it. But the menace cannot be eradicated only by asking students to give written undertaking. A comprehensive plan needs to be taken to prevent drug addiction and not just students and educational institutions but also the entire administration, particularly the police need to play an active role in this regard,” Saha told EducationWorld.
He also wondered whether the institutions had the infrastructure to implement any anti- drug drive. For example, he said there has to be regular monitoring of the premises by police and excise department, there has to be facilities to identify students immediately after they start showing behavioral changes and a system to maintain routine communication between parents and teachers. ” I wonder how many institutions have the facilities to do this,” said Saha.
According to Shuvajit Sarkar, assistant secretary of West Bengal state committee of Student Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPM said ” it is a good step”. But, he too is of the opinion that the menace cannot be stopped only by punishing students.
There is a need to change the overall environment of institutions and create a student-friendly atmosphere on the campus so that students can keep themselves focused only on their studies and other co-curricular activities.
“Many students tend to get addicted to drug and substance abuse because of certain distractions. This can be prevented if students can be encouraged to keep themselves involved in various activities such as games sports, debates etc other than studies. Asking students to take a vow against drug abuse and punishing them for not abiding by the declaration is not enough to keep students away from getting involved in the menace,” Sarkar told EducationWorld.
A student of Faculty of engineering and technology students’ union of Jadavpur Univetsity which is controlled mainly by students belonging to pro-extremist Left groups said no student body would support use of drug inside campuses or even outside.
“But, a declaration from student cannot stop students from involving themselves in drug and substance abuse. At present it is mandatory for each and every student to give an anti- ragging declaration during admission. But, has this stopped ragging of juniors by senior students”, the student asked.
A 17-year old student of Jadavpur University died in August last year after falling from the second floor of the main hostel after he was subjected to severe ragging by his seniors.
