Hyderabad: The Telangana government wants to tackle the issue of drug use among schoolchildren by setting up special groups called “Prahari Clubs” in both private and government schools. However, even though the government discussed this plan last month, no official orders have been issued to start these clubs in schools.
The plan suggests that each Prahari Club would include a president, who is usually the headmaster or principal, a vice-president, a senior teacher, and several members. These members would consist of two students from Classes VI to X, a representative from the parent-teacher association or a parent, and one member from the local police station.
Unfortunately, according to sources, this initiative is still only an idea on paper. Over a month has passed, and the education department has not taken any steps to implement it. This isn’t the first time the government has failed to follow through on education-related plans, such as setting up committees on drug use or school fee regulation.
Y Shekar Rao, chief advisor of the Telangana Recognised Schools Management Association (TRSMA), expressed disappointment. He said that drug use among schoolchildren has increased, yet the government has not taken any concrete steps. He emphasized that when the government decides to form a drug committee, it should act quickly to implement it.
Similarly, Shivaram Krishna, Correspondent of St Sai High School in Bhoiguda, stressed the importance of having a clear plan. He believes the government needs to be serious about forming these drug committees and should organize meetings with key stakeholders from both private and government schools. According to him, simply issuing a circular won’t help; there needs to be a detailed action plan that includes awareness programs and clear goals for the schools.
Members of the Hyderabad Schools Parents Association also voiced their concerns. They questioned why the government isn’t taking stronger action in schools, even though it implements drug regulations in other areas. They feel that whenever drug abuse cases rise in the city, the government makes promises but fails to act on them. They criticized the government for making announcements that only exist on paper, without any real action being taken.
