The Navhind Times Goa News
Joao Sousa M | NT
MARGAO
Despite concerns about youth falling prey to drug addiction, educational institutions across South Goa are yet to respond to a missive by the police to report any kind of drug-related abuse amidst reports of narcotic drugs being sold near educational institutions.
Highly-placed sources in South Goa district police headquarters revealed that they have sent missives to 600 educational institutions in the jurisdiction of 13 police stations in the district. However, till date not a single educational institution has come forward or reported any drug abuse case.
As per information, Ponda accounts for highest number of memorandums with (249) while in Canacona (88), Quepem (18), Sanguem (34), Mormugao (17), Cuncolim (62), Curchorem (12), Margao (49), Maina-Curtorim (27), Colva (20), Vasco (22), Verna (26) and Collem (8).
The official informed that the institutions were asked to help the Goa police detect sale of narcotic substances by reporting it to the nearest police station while the identity of such people would be protected. He informed that no institution has come forward yet adding that if institutions notice such abnormal activities, they should bring it to the notice of police without fear.
However, a headmistress claimed that the memorandum is just an eyewash and the police are not serious about cracking down on drug peddlers as there is a police-peddlers-politician nexus. She informed that if the police was serious they would raid the small gaddas and shops around educational institutions from time to time to ensure that there is no sale of such banned substances.
A principal of another institution said, “We are monitoring our students and the institutions can keep a watch till the students are in the campus, while they get ample time outside the campus, it is difficult for institutions to monitor what is happening outside the campuses and it is upto the police to ensure that narcotic substances are not sold around educational institutions.”
Head of yet another institution said as head of institutions we can hold sensitisation programmes for the students and keep a strict watch while the students are inside the campus adding, “We have also proposed to bring the entire campus under CCTV surveillance so that it acts as a deterrent to the students but that is most they can do.”
Police officials however informed that it is next to impossible for police department to deploy staff at every educational institution and they need support of parents and institutions to fight the menace collectively.
