Chapter on drugs included in Class X Hindi syllabus in Himachal

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 5

The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education has introduced a chapter on narcotic substances and their ill-effects in the Hindi subject of Class X.

The chapter, ‘Madak Padharth: Chunotiyan aur Hum (Narcotic substances: Challenges and We), outlining narcotics, their ill-effects, reasons, awareness and students’ role, NDPS Act and punishment under law and efforts made by the state government to curb the drug menace was introduced in Class X this year, said Akshey Sood, secretary of the board.

About 38.3 per cent people in the world are using drugs one way or the other and 3.30 crore persons die every year due to drug consumption. The growing number of addicts has become a cause for concern in Himachal, too. The lesson also incorporates the data of the National Crime Records Bureau, which states that seven crore people in India are under the influence of drugs.

“A negative atmosphere, a bad friend circle, promotion of narcotics consumption in films and advertisements, bad results of students, ignorance and fights in the family are some of the reasons for drug abuse. The idea behind introducing the chapter is to create awareness among students about the negative effects of drugs that affect health, family and finances of the user and their social and physiological impacts,” he said.

Last year also, a chapter, ‘Khuli Chithi (Open letter), was added to the syllabus of Class VIII in which an elder brother talks about changes experienced in the adolescent age, negative influence, and probability of being attracted to narcotic substances and makes an emotion appeal to his younger brother staying in a hostel to keep away from drugs.

“Awareness among students about drug abuse is very important to fight this growing menace, which has become a nationwide problem,” said board Chairman Suresh Kumar Soni.