PNS|Bhimavaram
District Collector P Prasanthi has directed the officials concerned to create awareness among the college students on the ill effects of drugs.
A meeting was held here on Thursday with the officials including the Special Enforcement Bureau officials. The Collector reviewed the steps taken to check the use of drugs. Speaking on the occasion, she said that the officials of relevant departments should work in a coordinated manner to eradicate the drug menace in the district.
“Steps should be taken to create awareness among the school and college students on the ill effects of drugs. The management of private and government colleges should keep a strict vigil on the students. The pan shops, liquor shops, and kiosks should be removed from the surroundings of educational institutions as part of curbing the drug menace,” the Collector said.
She directed the officials to use banners, posters, and hoardings to create awareness of the ill effects of drugs. The collector said that monitoring committees should be formed in schools and colleges and information on students using foreign currency should be provided.
Collector Vijaya Krishnan suggested that CCTV cameras should be installed in every medical shop and liquor shop and the CCTV footage should be monitored by this committee every month. The Collector said that a meeting should be convened with the traders’ associations and orders should be given not to sell drugs and Chinese gutka in the shops in the surrounding educational institutions.
She advised preparing an action plan to prevent students from getting drugs, adding that all municipalities should put up banners and hoardings approved by the government, at bus stands, railway stations, and main intersections against the use of drugs. She also instructed the officials to enhance vigilance in slum areas to check the drug menace. Joint Collector JV Murali, DRO Dasi Raju, and SEB officials were present.
