Clean Campus drive to check substance abuse

: Soon the ‘Safe Campus, Clean Campus’ initiative will grow in to ‘Clean Kerala Safe Kerala’ project.

A concerted effort by the Home and Education departments to check the rising trend of substance abuse among students, the Clean Campus Safe Campus project upped its glamour quotient when actor Mammootty was signed on as its brand ambassador at a function held here on Monday.

In his inaugural address, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala pointed out that a sustained campaign would be carried out across the State as part of the project. The threat of substance abuse would be introduced as a topic of debate in the State school arts fest from this year, he said.

Mr. Chennithala said that the government has decided to rid campuses of the menace of drugs, alcohol and tobacco products. The campaign seeks to involve the Home and Education departments to enforce a ban on sale of drugs and tobacco products near the premises of educational institutions. About 45 lakh students in 12,000 schools will be part of the programme, he said.

As per official records, police conducted over 19,000 surprise raids in the State against sale of drugs and tobacco products as on Monday. The enforcement agencies had also registered 3,867 cases and arrested 3,449 persons as part of the drive.

Mr. Mammootty exhorted the parents and student organisations to launch an agitation against use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs among the youth. The students should only be addicted to their education, arts and culture in their lives, he said.

Excise Minister K. Babu said that the government had launched the liquor and drug- free Kerala project based on reports that its use had shot up alarmingly in the State. He said that the Cabinet decision to make the State liquor-free was part of this policy.