The Delhi government on Wednesday organised a programme for hundreds of teachers to help them identify students using psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs.
The programme at Thyagraj Sports Complex was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia. Delhi High Court’s Justice Mukta Gupta was the guest of honour at the event.
Mr. Sisodia said, “The Education Department should itself be a drug. Our goal is to get children addicted to a good education and not to drugs — which is our guarantee.”
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Justice Gupta spoke about her experiences dealing with cases of drug abuse involving children.
Referring to the recent Delhi government decision to allocate 60 beds in its hospitals for substance abuse cases, she said “one hospital [should] be made that is solely dedicated to detoxification” as 60 beds scattered around Delhi will not be enough.
Education Department Secretary Sandeep Kumar pressed for awareness among teachers to combat substance abuse in an effective manner that involved rehabilitation instead of punishment.
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Narain Lal Meena, a teacher at a municipal corporation school, said, “Such seminars help a lot. We should have such programmes each year to maintain standards.”
Nishi Singh, a teacher at a municipal primary school, added, “Through these programmes, we will learn to recognise children abusing drugs and get them the help they need. Many a times, parents are unable to notice behavioural changes in their child. As teachers, we are better equipped to help children in need of attention.”
The programme encouraged teachers to be open to conversations with children and not use scare tactics or punish the students.