Belagavi
In a bold and proactive initiative to combat rising narcotic drug use among students, Belagavi City Police Commissioner’s Office submitted a proposal to the DC aimed at introducing voluntary drug testing across schools and colleges in the city.In a video release, city police commissioner Bhushan Borase said that the initiative, which is currently at the proposal stage, recommends that every school and college conduct random drug screening of at least 10% of students per semester, starting from Class 9 onwards.
The screening would involve blood sample testing to detect the presence of narcotic substances.Commissioner Borase clarified that the programme is entirely voluntary. For minor students, parental consent will be mandatory, while adult students must provide their own consent. Refusal to participate will not attract any pressure from police.The objective is not enforcement, but deterrence. If the mere possibility of testing motivates a student to stop drug use, the programme will have served its purpose, Borase said. He added that they were concerned about maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of the test results, and the sharing of the results with police by the institutions would not be mandatory but voluntary.
To support concerned parents, police have recommended a multi-drug screening kit, which is affordable and available for private use. Details of the kit can be found on the official website belagavicitypolice.karnataka.gov.in and on the department’s social media handles. Police are actively seeking feedback from citizens, especially parents, teachers, and school managements, to refine the implementation strategy. Commissioner Borase said similar programmes are already operational in two other districts of Karnataka and reportedly showed positive results.
To make reporting of drug use or sales easier, QR codes will be placed in public areas, schools, and colleges, allowing citizens to report anonymously.Borase, who took charge of the city police four months ago, already made significant strides in cracking down on narcotic drug distribution and consumption in Belagavi. This latest proposal reflects a shift towards preventive and community-driven policing, aimed at safeguarding the health and future of the city’s youth.