Lok Sabha Question No. 1220 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-25
Subject: Drug abuse in Educational Institutions
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: M V V Satyanarayana

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1220 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 th  NOVEMBER, 2019

## Drug abuse in Educational Institutions

## 1220.  SHRI M.V.V.SATYANARAYANA:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the Government is aware of the instances of reported cases of consumption of drugs, steroids, alcohol in the Schools/Colleges/Universities in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any directions/ instructions have been issued to all the Schools/Colleges/Government and Private Universities including its adjoining places to prohibit usage by the Students and strict compliance of rules;
- (d) whether  there  has  been  a  reported  increase  in  the  cases  of  ragging  of  the students in various Private/Government Universities of the country;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government;
- (f) whether any law has been enacted/ or Government has any proposal to bring suitable law; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

- (a) & (b): No, Sir.
- (c): University  Grants  Commission (UGC) has communicated to all the  universities for  strict  adherence  to  the  provisions  of  the  'Cigarettes  and  Other  Tobacco  Products (Prohibition  of  Advertisement  and  Regulation  of  Trade  and  Commerce,  Production, Supply  and  Distribution)  Act,  2003  and  Rules  framed  thereunder  on  2 nd April,  2013 (details available on www.ugc.ac.in).  The UGC circular enjoins upon all concerned inter alia to display boards prominently stating that sale of cigarettes and tobacco products in an area  within  a  radius  of  100  yards  of  the  university  /  colleges  is  strictly  prohibited. Besides,  sensitization  of  teaching  and  non-teaching  staff  of  the  University  and  its affiliated Colleges have been given pamphlets for organizing competitions in promoting a  tobacco-free  campus.  Another  communication  was  issued  on  27 th August,  2013 (details available on www.ugc.ac.in) for implementation of the actionable points of the National Policy on Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) wherein Para 55 provides for steps to tackle the problem of sale of drug to school and college children. Subsequently UGC have issued letters from time to time on dated December, 2013, 6 th September, 2016, 23th May, 2018, 30 th May, 2019 (details available on www.ugc.ac.in).

Central Board of Secondary Education vide its circular dated 7 th January, 2015 has  directed  all  the  schools  affiliated  to  it  to  display  boards  in  Hindi  and  English languages announcing Tobacco Free Educational Institutions.  It was done in order to comply the orders of Directorate of Health Services - Delhi which mandatory display of both the boards in accordance with guidelines issued under Indian Tobacco Control Act COTPA 2003 for all schools.    It  was  also  highlighted  that  the  non-compliance  would attract fine/ challan as per Tobacco Control Laws of Government of National Territory Delhi.

(d) & (e): There is an increase in reporting of the cases registered by National Anti Ragging Helpline primarily due to awareness created in students by the UGC through publicity of Anti-Ragging by media campaign towards curbing the menace of ragging.

Summary of the cases that requested information by the Monitoring Agency by UGC. The status from 18 th April, 2012 till 21 st November, 2019 is as under:

| Total cases registered                                        |   5323 |
|---------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
| Total cases closed                                            |   5153 |
| Total cases active at UGC & other Regulatory Authorities      |     14 |
| Total cases active at Contact Centres and Monitoring Agencies |    156 |

(f)  &  (g):    The  UGC  has  notified  the  'UGC Anti  Ragging  Regulations  on curbing  the menace  of  ragging  in  higher  educational  institutions,  2009'.  Details  are  available  at UGC website (www.ugc.ac.in).

The  UGC  has  made  it  mandatory  for  all  Higher  Educational  Institutions  (HEIs)  to incorporate  in  their  prospectus  the  directions  of  the  Government  regarding prohibition and consequences of ragging.

In  addition,  the  UGC  has  also  framed  guidelines  on  Safety  of  Students  on  and  off Campuses  of  HEIs  with  an  objective  for  the  effective  management  of  problems  and challenges  faced  by  students.  These  guidelines  provides  for  mandatory  broad-based 'Students Counselling System'  for the effective  management  of  problems and challenges faced by students.

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