VINOD BHAT
NEW DELHI, Sept 3: In a landmark step towards curbing substance abuse among school children, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in creating a drug-free school environment. The agreement, inked at CBSE headquarters in Dwarka, New Delhi, marks the beginning of a structured collaboration to protect students from the rising menace of drugs and related addictions.
The MoU was signed by Anurag Garg, IPS, Director General of NCB, and Rahul Singh, IAS, Chairperson of CBSE, in the presence of more than 500 school principals and counsellors from CBSE-affiliated schools across the National Capital Region.
Speaking on the occasion, DG NCB Anurag Garg underlined the vital role educational institutions can play in tackling the drug problem. He reaffirmed NCB’s support in conducting awareness campaigns, workshops, and counselling sessions to help students and their families. He also highlighted the MANAS helpline – 1933 – which enables citizens to confidentially report drug trafficking as well as seek counselling or rehabilitation support. Warning against the growing use of vapes, Garg said these devices could act as gateways to nicotine and narcotics addiction. He stressed that the manufacture, sale, transport, and promotion of vapes are strictly prohibited and punishable under law, urging schools to share related information with authorities.
CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh, while addressing the gathering, reaffirmed the board’s commitment to the well-being of students. He said teachers are often the first to notice behavioural changes in children, making them crucial allies in early detection of substance use. “A vigilant teacher can easily identify a child using drugs from his or her behaviour in school,” Singh observed.
The MoU provides for a comprehensive framework of joint initiatives, including quarterly awareness programs, capacity-building workshops for teachers and counsellors, e-learning modules on drug prevention, community outreach activities, and dedicated counselling services for students and parents. A pilot project will be launched in 100 CBSE schools and later scaled up through a hub-and-spoke model to cover a wider network.
Following the signing ceremony, an awareness program on the prevention of substance abuse was held, which drew participation from more than 500 principals, counsellors, and wellness teachers from CBSE-affiliated schools across the country. The sessions included a keynote address on “Leadership for Empowering the School Ecosystem” by Ashutosh Agnihotri, IAS, Chairman and Managing Director of the Food Corporation of India, and a motivational talk titled “Refuse the First Dose, Secure the Future” by Dr. Anees C., IRS, Deputy Director of NCB.
The event concluded with an interactive session where school leaders exchanged concerns with experts and discussed practical strategies to combat drug abuse at the grassroots level.
The NCB-CBSE collaboration reflects a shared vision of creating a safe, supportive, and healthy school ecosystem—one that not only deters substance misuse but also empowers students to make positive choices for their future.
