Lok Sabha Question No. 4228 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-07
Subject: Use of Drugs in Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: PREM DAS RAI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4228 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.01.2019

## Use of Drugs in Schools

## 4228.  SHRI PREM DAS RAI :

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that the three corporations have identified 1820 school kids between the age 7-10 years who consume tobacco, solutions, inhalers, gutkha and other drugs in Delhi;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of children died due to using such drugs in the country, State/UT-wise;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  formulate  any  scheme  for  protection  of school children from drug abuse including steps taken to crack down on alleged sale of  drugs  among  students  in  schools  and  college  campus  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the number of illegal use of drugs in different Central Universities?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

- (a): The three corporations viz. North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) have identified 723 school kids between the age 7-10 years who consume tobacco, solutions, inhalers, gutkha and other drugs.
- (b) NDMC,  SDMC  and  EDMC  have  identified  441,  209  and  73  such  kids respectively.  However, no death has been reported till date in the three Municipal Corporations  of  Delhi.  As  regard  to  states  and  other  UTs,  no  such  data  is  being maintained.

(c) & (d) :   The Ministry of Human Resource Development has issued guidelines to all the States & UTs which provides that Life-skills education should address, interalia,  the  issue  of  drug  abuse.  The  Government  has  formulated  the  policy  for protection  of  school  children  from  drug  abuse.    The  Sections  77  and  78  of  the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 provide penal provisions for giving intoxicating liquor or narcotics or psychotropic substance to a child or using a child for vending, peddling, carrying, supplying or smuggling any intoxicating liquor, narcotic  drug  or  psychotropic  substance.  The  National  Institute  of  Social  Defence (NISD), an autonomous organization under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, conducts sensitization and preventive education programs in schools and  colleges  on  regular  basis.  During  2017-18,  NISD  conducted  247  awareness generation  programs  in  various  Schools  and  Universities/Colleges  covering  23006 beneficiaries.  The  Central  Board  of  Secondary  Education  (CBSE)  has  also  issued advisories to schools to promote the cause of prevention of drug abuse. Similarly, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) undertook a pan India Radio awareness campaign through All India Radio on FM Rainbow and Vividh Bharti channels from 13 th to 19 th May, 2016 (one week) against substance abuse by children and their use in carrying, supplying, smuggling, etc. of tobacco products and other intoxicants.

Further,  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  has  framed  guidelines  on safety of students on and off campuses of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) on 27.01.2016. HEIs should mandatorily put in place a broad-based 'Student Counseling System' for the effective management of problems and challenges faced by students. It should be a unique, interactive and target oriented system, involving students,  teachers  and  parents,  resolved  to  address  common  student  concerns ranging from anxiety, stress, fear of change and failure to homesickness and a slew of academic worries. UGC has also issued guidelines for strict compliance of the ' the  cigarettes  and  other  Tobacco  Products  (Prohibition  of  Advertisement  and regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 which  contained  certain  provision  pertaining  to  educational  institutions.  Guidelines were also issued for:  'Preventing sale of drugs to school and college children'

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had also notified a scheme of National Awards for outstanding services in the field of Prevention of Alcoholism and  Substance  (Drug)  Abuse  in  order  to  recognize  the  efforts  and  encourage excellence  in  the  field  of  prevention  of  substance  abuse  and  rehabilitation  of  its victims.

(e): No such data is being maintained.

******