PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has sought to clear the confusion over the Education Department’s circular declaring a 500-metre radius around educational institutions as a drug-free zone, stating that the initiative is part of an all-India exercise based on Government of India and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) guidelines.
“People should not create unnecessary confusion over the drug-free zone circular. This is not only applicable to Goa; it is an all-India initiative based on Government of India and NCB guidelines,” Sawant said, addressing reporters today. He added that the measure is primarily intended to create awareness and monitor suspicious activities around school campuses.
Director of Education Shailesh Zingde also clarified that the 500-metre radius was not decided by the Goa Government or the Education Department, but by the competent central authorities. “We did not decide on the 500-metre distance. The 500-metre radius was decided by NCORD or the Narcotics Control Bureau. It was not decided by the Education Department, nor by the Government of Goa,” Zingde said.
Zingde explained that the directive followed discussions at the NCORD level after instances in another State where children were allegedly being used for supplying and delivering drugs. He stressed that the circular was not issued because of any specific drug incident in Goa.
Under the directive, schools will be required to display a board declaring the area a ‘500-Metre Drug-Free Zone’, while the Public Works Department (PWD) will be asked to demarcate the approximate 500-metre radius.
Zingde clarified that schools are not being asked to police the entire zone. If any suspicious activity or case comes to their notice, the institution is required to report it to the police and maintain a record. “If a suspicious case is noticed, they have to report it to the police and maintain a record of it,” he said.
He said there are currently no specific instructions regarding a dedicated school monitoring committee. However, the Education Department is likely to set up a committee similar to the one already constituted for tobacco-free zones.
Zingde also said the department has a timeline to comply with the central directive, stressing that the measures are being implemented as part of mandatory compliance.
