Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Education Director Shailesh Zingde has clarified that schools will not be responsible for taking enforcement action against drug-related activities under the government’s 500-metre drug-free zone circular.
Zingde said the initiative is on similar lines to the existing 200-metre tobacco-free zone around educational institutions, which is implemented across the country.
Clarifying the responsibilities of schools, he said headmasters and school authorities will neither be expected nor authorised to take direct action against persons involved in suspected drug-related activities.
Instead, schools will focus on awareness and reporting. Educational institutions will be required to display boards creating awareness about the drug-free zone and the dangers of substance abuse.
If school authorities notice any suspicious activity relating to drugs in the vicinity, they are expected to report it to the police, who will be responsible for verification, investigation and necessary legal action.
