Students Key to Building Drug-Free Telangana, Says Telangana Governor
Hyderabad, June 19 (TNT): Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Friday called upon students to stay away from drugs and channel their talent and energy towards nation-building, asserting that young people have a crucial role in creating a drug-free Telangana.
Participating alongside Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy in the State-level School Reopening Programme, distribution of Young India Education Kits and the Drug-Free Telangana Pledge ceremony at the L.B. Stadium here, the Governor urged students to adopt the message, “Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life”.
The Governor and the Chief Minister distributed education kits to students of residential educational institutions and administered the anti-drug pledge to a large gathering of students.
Addressing the gathering, Shukla said education should extend beyond classrooms and provide students opportunities to learn through exposure to laboratories, industries, research centres, startups and workplaces.
He welcomed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding with industries, educational institutions, voluntary organisations and sector skill councils to strengthen experiential learning.
Appreciating the State Government’s initiative of providing education kits, the Governor said the programme reflected its commitment to ensuring quality education and equal opportunities for all students.
He noted that school students were being provided kits worth Rs 1,505, residential school students kits worth Rs 2,976 and hostel students kits worth Rs 5,096.
“New books and uniforms instill enthusiasm and self-confidence among children. This initiative is not merely a distribution programme but a reflection of the State’s resolve to provide equal educational opportunities to every student,” he said.
Emphasising the importance of maintaining educational institutions as safe and drug-free spaces, Shukla said the Centre’s Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan had evolved into a nationwide movement and appreciated the Drug-Free Telangana campaign being implemented jointly by the School Education Department, Police Department and EAGLE initiative.
Recalling his tenure as Governor of Himachal Pradesh, he said sustained public participation had helped build an effective movement against substance abuse and expressed confidence that Telangana would emerge as a model State in combating drug abuse.
The Governor underlined the role of teachers and parents in protecting children from harmful influences through constant communication, trust and emotional support. He advised students to remain focused on their goals and avoid temporary temptations.
Expressing hope that schools in Telangana would emerge as centres of knowledge, values, innovation and social responsibility, Shukla said they would contribute significantly to the national vision of a developed India.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Mohammed Azharuddin, Adluri Laxman and senior officials were present.
TNT TS
