KOZHIKODE: To track the movement of antisocial elements in schools and to curb the use of drugs, the Excise Department will install complaint boxes in selected educational institutions in the city.
The boxes are meant to help students, parents and staff forward information on suspected drug abuse in schools to the Excise authorities.
The move is being initiated in accordance with the decision taken at the recent meeting held to contemplate on the curbing measures to be taken. The boxes will compile complaints from the staff, students and parents.
North Zone Excise Joint Commissioner C M Shanavas, who has conceptualised the idea, says the boxes are being placed so that the students and staff do not feel scared of forwarding their complaints about drug use.
“The boxes can help the students as well as the staff pass on information about drug use on the premises of educational institutions, hiding their identity,” says C M Shanavas.
The boxes will be placed at Vellimadukunnu JDT Islam High School, Parayancheri Government Boys High School, Government Model Higher Secondary School, Karaparamba Higher Secondary School, Parappil M M High School, Medical College Campus High School, Chinthavalappu Government Upper Primary School, Malabar Christian College, St Joseph's College, Devagiri, and Meenchanda Government Arts and Science College, in the first phase.
Kozhikode Excise Assistant Commissioner P K Suresh says the mission is being launched in association with the health clubs functioning in educational institutions, with the support of the department.
“The boxes will be opened once in every two weeks in the presence of the authorities of the institutions and the complaints will be checked. If we get a good response in the first phase, we will switch to the weekly checking,” says Suresh. “If the complaints are found against the students, the department will take appropriate action. If complaints are raised against the students consuming or using hallucinogenic substances, the department, in association with the authorities, will organise awareness camps and counselling at the institution. The details of the students will be kept confidential,” says Suresh.
“If complaints are raised against outsiders, the department will conduct a probe and if the accused are found guilty they will be punished,” says Suresh.
The Excise deputy commissioner will evaluate the actions taken in response to the complaints every month.
Recently, in a setback to the attempts of the police, the complaint boxes installed on school premises were found removed.
“If any such case is reported, we will take stringent action,” says Shanavas. Excise Minister K Babu will launch the mission at a function to be held at the Vellimadukunnu JDT Islam High School on August 2. The boxes are being installed with the cooperation of the State Bank of India's Kozhikode main branch.