The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Ministry of Home Affairs signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the CBSE headquarters, here on Wednesday, to strengthen cooperation in creating drug-free school environment and raising awareness against substance abuse.
The MoU was signed by Anurag Garg, Director General, NCB and Rahul Singh, Chairperson, CBSE. During his address, Garg, Director General, NCB, highlighted the crucial role of educational institutions in combating the menace of drugs and reaffirmed NCB’s support in conducting awareness campaigns, workshops, and counselling programs.
The CBSE chairperson spoke about board’s commitment to safeguarding the well-being of students by equipping schools, teachers, and parents with the knowledge and resources to stop substance abuse. During his address, CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta emphasized that schools must provide students with a safe and supportive environment, in addition to academics.
He added that timely intervention and government programs like Tele-MANAS, which is expanding access to mental health care across India, can be instrumental in this effort.
The MoU provides a comprehensive framework for joint initiatives, including quarterly awareness programs, capacity-building workshops for teachers and counselors, e-modules on drug prevention, community outreach, and counselling services for students and parents.
A pilot programme will be launched in 100 CBSE schools, which will further extend outreach through a hub-and-spoke model. Following the signing ceremony, an Awareness Program on the Prevention of Substance Abuse was held witnessing over 500 principals, counselors, and wellness teachers from CBSE-affiliated schools across India.
The program featured insightful sessions including, “Leadership for Empowering the School Ecosystem”, “Refuse the First Dose, Secure the Future”. It highlighted the vital aspects of leadership for educators in guiding schools to build resilience against social challenges and empower young lives towards a healthier future.
Dr. Anees C., Deputy Director, NCB, provided a broader understanding of the challenges, preventive measures, communication strategies, and the collaboration of peers, families, and schools to curb the menace of drug abuse and ensure the safety of youth.
The program concluded with an interactive Question–Answer Session, where principals and counselors from across the country engaged with experts, shared concerns, and sought practical strategies for strengthening drug-prevention initiatives at the school level. This collaboration underscores CBSE’s and NCB’s shared vision of ensuring a safe, healthy, and supportive school ecosystem that discourages substance misuse and empowers students to make positive life choices.