Parents Hail TGBIE’s Anti-drug Declaration Initiative

Hyderabad: Students and parents hailed Telangana Board of Intermediate Education's (TGBIE) new initiative of taking an anti-drug declaration during admissions, saying it creates awareness among students besides curbing the menace.

Commencing academic year 2026-27, students must declare that the possession, use, sale and distribution of alcohol, tobacco, and any psychoactive substances are wrong and harmful. The declaration also states that the consumption, possession, or trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is a criminal offence under the NDPS Act, 1985, punishable with rigorous imprisonment and fine.

A student, Talla Dhanya, said the initiative would benefit students by creating awareness and helping to bring positive change in society regarding the government’s anti-drug campaign.

Nagendra Prasad, a parent, said it is one of the good initiatives, as many youngsters are becoming addicted to drugs. He said the situation in cities is also worrying. "It will be better if the government introduces it from the school level", he added.

Madhapur Nano Junior College principal Durga Prasad said it's a good initiative as such cases are being noticed from the school level itself. He said awareness programmes should be conducted for students, and parents would also become more alert since intermediate education is a turning point in a student’s life.

Meanwhile, the TGBIE on Wednesday clarified that it instructed all junior colleges to obtain a simple anti-drug declaration from students and parents at the time of admission, with the objective of creating awareness and ensuring preventive measures against drug abuse among students.

The said declaration should not be treated as a notarised affidavit under any circumstances. No student or parent is required to approach a Notary or incur any expenditure for the purpose of submission of the declaration, it said.