In an effort to contain the substance abuse among the school-going children, the Central Board of Secondary Education is all set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Union Ministry of Home Affairs, for “Cooperation in Awareness Program against Drug Abuse at CBSE-affiliated Schools”.
“The issue of substance abuse continues to pose a serious challenge, adversely affecting the health, wellbeing, and future prospects of students. In this regard, schools have a pivotal responsibility in fostering safe and supportive environments that discourage substance misuse and promote positive lifestyle choices,” CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta stated in a notification issued by the Board.
The MoU will be signed during a special ceremony being organised at the Board’s headquarter in Dwarka on 3rd September. The initiative is aimed towards building drug-free school environments.
Through this collaboration, CBSE and NCB will jointly undertake awareness programs, workshops, and counseling initiatives to empower educators, counselors, and students to make responsible and healthy life choices.
Following the MoU signing, an Awareness Program for Principals and Counselors of CBSE-affiliated schools will be conducted. It will focus on strategies for prevention of substance abuse, strengthening the role of educators and counselors, and building drug-free school communities.
Meanwhile, the Board disclosed that over 23 lakh calls have been received from 53 dedicated cells under Tele-MANAS, the National Tele Mental Health Programme, since its launch in October 2022. The programme was launched jointly by the CBSE in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with the aim to make mental health services more accessible, stigma-free, and youth-friendly.
The 24×7 mental health helpline offers a free, confidential, support to support the well-being of citizens across India, especially students. Services are currently available in 20 languages and are managed by trained mental health professionals.
Recognizing the unique needs of adolescents and young learners, the Ministry has also launched a Video Consultation Platform for real-time, confidential interaction, and a Tele-MANAS mobile application (available in Hindi and English) to further enhance accessibility, the Board stated.
Additional regional language support is planned to be added soon. The Board also mandated its affiliated schools to integrate Tele-MANAS services into the school environment by undertaking various measures including; prominently display the Tele-MANAS helpline numbers—14416 and 1800-891-4416—and the QR code for the Tele-MANAS app at prominent locations, especially near counselor rooms, common notice boards, libraries, and ICT labs.
It has also instructed the schools to include mental health awareness and Tele-MANAS information in school newsletters, student handbooks, school assemblies, and parent-teacher meetings.
The schools are also advised to use IEC videos developed by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, during student wellness and life-skills education activitie, capacity-building of school counselors and wellness coordinators to inform and refer students to TeleMANAS services when required, and encourage age-appropriate, peer-led health awareness activities, in collaboration with ongoing school programmes under Samagra Shiksha or PM SHRI Schools.