📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Subhashish Panigrahi
Education
Odisha to Declare 500‑Metre Zones Around Schools and Colleges Drug‑Free
✍️ Jagran Josh
🗓 10 Nov 2026, 06:16 AM
👁 24
The Odisha government announced that a 500‑metre radius around every school and college will be designated as a drug‑free zone to curb substance abuse among students.
The state administration of Odisha has launched a new Drug‑Free Campus Initiative, stipulating that a 500‑metre perimeter surrounding each school and college will be officially marked as a drug‑free zone. The move aims to create a safer environment for students and deter the sale and consumption of illicit substances in the vicinity of educational institutions.
Under the scheme, local authorities will be tasked with monitoring the designated zones, coordinating with school management and law‑enforcement agencies to enforce the prohibition. Signage and public awareness campaigns are expected to be rolled out promptly to inform residents and vendors about the restrictions.
Education officials said the initiative complements existing anti‑drug programs in the state and will be reinforced through regular inspections and community outreach. The government hopes that the clear demarcation of drug‑free areas will reduce exposure of young people to narcotics and promote healthier campus cultures.
Under the scheme, local authorities will be tasked with monitoring the designated zones, coordinating with school management and law‑enforcement agencies to enforce the prohibition. Signage and public awareness campaigns are expected to be rolled out promptly to inform residents and vendors about the restrictions.
Education officials said the initiative complements existing anti‑drug programs in the state and will be reinforced through regular inspections and community outreach. The government hopes that the clear demarcation of drug‑free areas will reduce exposure of young people to narcotics and promote healthier campus cultures.