Each school in Dakshina Kannada has a teacher as a nodal officer to check abuse of narcotic drugs and carry out awareness campaign, according to Block Education Officer (South) M.P. Jnanesh.
On concerns expressed by a Dalit activist over the reported use of sports performance enhancement drugs by some schools, Mr. Jnanesh said that following directions from the Deputy Commissioner, a teacher has been appointed as a nodal officer. The nodal officer will look at drug abuse and carry out campaign.
During the monthly grievance redressal meeting of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes at the office of the Police Commissioner here on Sunday, Dalit activist Mukesh accused physical education teachers in some schools in the district of making their students consume performance enhancement drugs and stay top in sport events. He asked the police and education department officials to take action.
Activist Sajini said that there were allegations of harassment of children in the school in which Class 10 student Kavya Poojary, who allegedly committed suicide on July 20, was studying. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) K. Shantaraju said that he will not comment on it as the matter was being investigated by Assistant Commissioner of Police D.S. Rajendra.
Activist S.P. Anand said that many liquor outlets in the city open at 6 a.m. and work till late in the night. This was against the prevailing norms that state such shops can operate between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Mr. Shantaraju said that the police will act against such violations and also write to the Excise Department for action, he said. Dalit leader Ramesh Kotiyan pointed out that several city buses were not issuing tickets to passengers.
