BENGALURU: Engineering colleges across the nation have been asked to show zero tolerance towards consumption of drugs, smoking and using tobacco related products.The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has given strict instructions to colleges to be zero tolerant towards such activities. In a circular issued recently, colleges have been asked to organise campaigns by using NCC, NSS and other voluntary groups.
AICTE has warned colleges to keep an eye on students with such habits and initiate immediate action against them. “Not just at the college campuses, we have even asked colleges to be vigilant at hostels where students from other countries reside. More than the campus, hostels are vulnerable to such activities,” said a senior official of AICTE.
In case of such incidents reported at the campus, then the colleges must submit report to the AICTE along with details of students indulged in such activities. “Considering the seriousness of the case, the colleges can also file a police complaint. It is not just to punish those who indulges in such things, it is also important to know the source of the drugs,” said an AICTE official.
A few days after the circular was issued, a drug abuse case was cracked in Karnataka. Udupi district police have detained six students of Manipal Institute of Technology at Udupi. Police have conducted medical examination of the students and filed a case. AICTE has also sought a report from the institute.
‘No room for junk food too’
AICTE has also asked engineering colleges to create awareness about junk food. “We cannot ignore the ill effects of junk food on our health. It causes obesity. So, we have asked institutes to regulate the food available in canteens,” an AICTE official said.