Himachal Pradesh school books to have chapter on ill- effects of drug abuse

As of now no studies have been undertaken by the education department on the exact level of drug addiction in the state.

In the wake of rising drug menace in the state, the Himachal Pradesh government has proposed to introduce a chapter on ill - effects of drug abuse in the syllabus of government schools, starting from the next academic session.

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The syllabus change follows a high level meeting in Shimla which discussed the problem of drug menace in the state, last month. In the last few months, there has been an increase in cases of narcotic smuggling. According to police reports, ‘chitta’ (heroin-based narcotics concoction) is being smuggled into the state and abused particularly by school and college students.

The State Education Council of Education Research and Training, Solan, will be working on the chapters on drug abuse to be added to the syllabus from next academic year, education secretary Arun Sharma confirmed.

The content of the chapters will vary for primary and secondary level. “The objective is to sensitise children on drug menace,” says Sharma.

As of now no studies have been undertaken by the education department on the exact level of drug addiction in the state.

Recently, Kullu district police chief Shalini Agnihotri launched a campaign ‘Sahbhagita Aapki Aur Humari’ roping in Mahila Mandal and the Nav Yuvak Mandal to fight the drug mafia.

Kullu district is amongst the worst affected with an estimated drug trade of Rs 2,000 crore annually. Successive governments have failed to chalk out an effective strategy to contain drug cartels in the region for the past three decades.

“The use of chemical based drugs has increased amongst youth in Himachal,” says Vikram Kuthiala , member of New Life Foundation, a drug de-addiction centre in Shimla.