Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 26: Minister for School Education, Naeem Akhtar today launched the campaign for ‘Tobacco Free Educational Institutions in J&K’ here at Shri Maharaja Ranbir Higher Secondary School (SMRHSS).
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said teaching fraternity has a key role to play in checking fast spreading menace of addiction and drug abuse in the society.
Making his point, the Minister said around the world it has been made mandatory to have statuary warning on cigarette covers and now it has become a part of general wisdom that tobacco is not good for health. “Besides being loaded with many health hazards it burns a hole in the pocket of the person addicted to it,” he said.
He however regretted that while awareness has been created about the ill effects of tobacco, but the young minds are still vulnerable not just to smoking but also to other agents of addiction.
“But I think best role in checking this menace can be played by the teachers and educational institutions,” he said.
The campaign has been pioneered by J&K Voluntary Health Association – an NGO working for making the schools free from tobacco by strict implementation of statuary laws prohibiting sale and smoking within 100 yards of educational institutes and other prohibiting provisions. The NGO representatives also gave a power point presentation on the steps to be taken to realize the goal of having tobacco free schools.
Director School Education, Jammu Smita Sethi, Chief Education Officers of Jammu region, principals of city schools and representatives of NGOs attended the launching programme.
The Minister also recounted the increasing threat of menace of drug abuse among the young generation describing it as the most infectious disease. “You will not know how your child gets caught in this deadly trap because he is open to influences from all sides that are not under your control”, he said, adding it needs a very conscious and deliberate effort from the teaching community to turnaround the situation.
“At administrative level much is being done and people involved in the illegal drug trade are booked under PSA. But that is only one part of it and the other part is that the battle is to be fought in the minds and students and children have to be rescued and brought into the mainstream”, he added.
Earlier, the Minister conducted surprise inspection of Higher Secondary School and Government Middle School Bari Brahmana. He interacted with the staff and children to assess the quality of education imparted to the pupils.
He also directed the concerned authorities to provide good stuff flooring for pre- nursery classes at the Middle School.
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