Governor Calls for Anti-Drug Pledges in Schools and Colleges

Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla has urged young people to stay away from drugs and focus on achieving their dreams, stressing the need to make Telangana drug-free by 2029. He addressed an awareness programme titled Nasha Mukt Bharat and Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat–2047, organised jointly by the Telangana chapter of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) and the NSS Cell of Osmania University at Tagore Auditorium in Hyderabad. The Governor said he had suggested to the state government that students be required to take an anti-drug pledge at the time of admission to schools and colleges. He also announced a special 60-day awareness campaign from November 14 to January 12, featuring seminars, exhibitions, counselling sessions and rallies to educate students and young people about the harmful effects of substance abuse.

The Governor emphasised that drug addiction affects not only individuals but also their families and communities. He urged people to support those struggling with addiction through medical treatment, counselling and family care rather than stigmatising or isolating them. He noted that IRCS membership in Telangana had crossed 128,000, while registrations in the Junior Red Cross and Youth Red Cross divisions had exceeded 1.6 million. During the programme, he unveiled anti-drug posters and stickers, administered an anti-drug pledge to students, inaugurated a blood donation camp and flagged off an awareness rally from Tagore Auditorium to the Arts College. Governor’s Special Chief Secretary M. Dana Kishore also stressed the important role of young people in building a drug-free society.