Hyderabad: The initiative of launching Anti-Drug Committees (ADCs) at educational institutions by the Hyderabad city police was launched by commissioner C.V. Anand at the Tagore Auditorium of Osmania University on Friday.
Anand said that to eradicate drug abuse and to carry out sustained campaigns, city police had launched Anti-Drug Committees (ADC) in 55 colleges in the East Zone of Hyderabad at Tagore auditorium, Osmania University. Around 1,000 students of various colleges, ADC members and faculty members attended the event.
"These committees serve as the bridge for effective coordination between police and educational institutions to synergise the fight against illicit drugs abuse and trade. "Anti-drug committees, which work on the line of Anti-ragging committees, in every college must comprise a minimum of five members drawn from faculty, hostel wardens and students, to guide the youngsters and counsel them to prevent them from using drugs," he said, adding that it is now mandatory to set up ADCs in all colleges in the city.
The city police chief also elaborated the responsibilities of the committees in detail. He said that their activities include conducting meetings, workshops and liaising with the local police etc. He urged the management to put up banners, signages in the premises of the campus.
Reeling out the measures taken by the state government and city police, the commissioner apprised the attendees on how the Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing (H-NEW) dismantled the drug cartels beginning with local peddlers, inter-state gangs, dark web deals, international suppliers and their deportation and the results of rehabilitation measures.
Being an Osmania alumnus, he shared vivid memories with the students in an interactive engagement and sensitised them by sharing the adverse effects of drugs. Citing the NCRB figures, he cautioned them about the dangerous consequences on health, career and the society at large. He announced that the city police will take the drive forward to schools in the second phase. The government is contemplating to enact new norms to address sexual abuses, ragging and drug abuse issues by fixing up the responsibility on the managements concerned, he said.
Dr Sandeep from Asha Hospitals diligently explained how the younger generations are falling into the vicious cycle of drug addiction. "Most of the youngsters try it out for pleasure in the beginning and in the later stages they get addicted," he said.
P. Lakshmi Narayana, Registrar of Osmania University, said that they were appreciative of Hyderabad city police for launching the ADC in the city beginning with Osmania and assured all possible assistance to the city police.
Since Osmania University and its affiliated colleges draw a large number of foreign students, Prof. Sriram Venkatesh, principal, Osmania University Engineering College opined that counselling sessions should be conducted exclusively to foreign students to sensitise them.
