NT Reporter
Panaji
In the wake of the death of a student allegedly due to drugs, former chairperson of Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR), Peter Borges renewed the demand for immediate implementation of the comprehensive Substance Abuse Policy for Schools.
“A comprehensive policy was framed by the commission and submitted to the Directorate of Education. But nothing has been done so far to implement it. Goa cannot keep treating funerals as wake-up calls. Each overdose death is not just a tragedy for a family, it is an indictment of a system that refuses to move beyond raids and rhetoric. Raids may grab headlines, but they cannot fix a decades-old crisis,” said Borges.
The policy has wide-ranging provisions, covering all aspects of substance use within the school environment. It applies to students, parents, teachers, shadow teachers, employed staff, outsourced staff,
and visitors.
“The policy applies to instances of drug, alcohol, and tobacco possession and usage, irrespective of whether it occurs on school premises or during organised activities such as functions, sporting events, picnics, study tours, or industrial visits,” states the draft.
The draft also provides for therapy and rehabilitation, addressing the needs of individuals requiring specialised assistance for substance-related challenges. It outlines support through counseling and treatment for those affected by substance misuse.
Its stated aim is to give clear guidance and procedures for stakeholders to handle drug-related issues, offer supportive responses to individuals whose use of substances hampers academic performance, ensure a conducive learning environment, and cultivate a climate where students feel empowered to seek help. It also establishes a referral system, sets guidelines and sanctions, and stresses clear communication to staff, parents, and students.
Additionally, the policy calls for institution-wide drug education, integrated into health and social development programmes, along with comprehensive training for school and college personnel to equip them with knowledge and skills on drugs a
nd alcohol.
Borges said Goa urgently needs a well-funded drug policy focused on prevention in schools and colleges.
“Goa needs a policy that finally invests in what matters – scientific prevention in schools and colleges, where children today are experimenting not only with hard drugs but also with vapes and e-cigarettes,”
said Borges.
“Until we shift from token rallies and awareness drives to serious investment and long-term prevention strategies, we will keep burying our children one after another. This is not about Udta Goa anymore — this is about whether Goa will rise with honesty and courage, or keep collapsing under denial,” he said.
