Haryana secondary school principals take the lead with the awareness programme on drug abuse amongst young people.

UNODC report Chandigarh, October 07
Education Minister, Mr. Mullana explaining a point to Mr. Gary Lewis  The schools component of the Drug Awareness Programme of Project G86 became the pivot on which the first of the State Launches of the 'I Decide' campaign took off, at the Haryana Raj Bhawan in Chandigarh. On Saturday, 7th October, the Governor of Haryana, Dr. A R Kidwai, in the presence of the Education Minister, Haryana, Mr. Phoolchand Mullana and Mr. Gary Lewis, Representative, UNODC ROSA, the first of the State programmes was flagged off. The Bhartiya Grameen Mahila Sangh and the Education Department joined hands to invite UNODC's team to conduct a one day sensitization workshop for almost 175 principals of senior secondary schools in the State. What made the effort even more special was that all these schools were from the rural areas.         Principals of secondary schools listening to a technical session The Principals sat listening in rapt attention as the UNODC team conducted the technical sessions, on the Drug scenario with social reference to young people, Risk and Protective Factors, Myths and Misconceptions and the Role of Life Skills in education. The teachers wanted to know more about problems that they should be careful of as heads of girls' schools, thereby endorsing the visionary approach that the Bharatiya Grameen Mahila Sangh, in approaching the Drug menace in Haryana through education of the girl child. Credit must be given to Dr. Mrs. Saroj Prashant, Chairperson of the Bharatiya Grameen Mahila Sangh (Haryana Chapter).         Delegates at the inaugural function The venue of the programme, the Raj Bhawan itself, was tastefully decorated with the Posters if the "I Decide" campaign. The Principals all carried the material for their schools in "I Decide" bags, distinctive with their bold tick sign, the logo of the campaign.         Principal Secretary Mr. R.S. Gujral in discussion with Mr. Gary Lewis, Representative UNODC The success of this programme emanates from the extra ordinary efforts put in by Mr. R.S. Gujral, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, and Mr. K.K. Khandelwal, Director General, Dept. of Education. Both these officers are now enthusiastically pushing for Drug awareness to join the Syllabus that will be taught over the Edusat network, in partnership with Project G86.Another first that Haryana will claim for itself.         Governor, Dr. A.R. Kidwai delivering his address at the inagural function Gary Lewis, Representative UNODC receiving a memento from Ms. Umashankar, Treasurer, Bhartiya Grameen Mahila Sangh      The Governor presenting a memento to Mr. Pratik Kumar, Project Co-ordinator UNODC The Governor presenting a memento to Dr. Saroj Prashant, Chairperson of the Bharatiya Grameen Mahila Sangh (Haryana Chapter)