Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Feb 23: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) has become very stringent about the consumption and peddling of drugs by its students. With its zero tolerance policy against substance abuse, the MAHE authorities have suspended 42 students for a period of one month for engaging in drug consumption. Earlier, MAHE had suspended two students for being involved in drug peddling.

In a report to the Udupi district police superintendent, MAHE cleared its stands stating, “MAHE's vision is to be a leading university, dedicated to the pursuit of excellence by fostering disseminating and applying knowledge and instilling ethical and intellectual values to ensure and enrich the future of all the student community. During March 2021, we were entrusted with a high-priority year-long project titled Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) funded by the ministry of social justice and empowerment, government of India to combat drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the MAHE campus and surrounding areas of the Udupi district. Under the aegis of the NMBA, our project titled ‘Nasha Mukt Udupi Abhiyaan’ by involving young leaders of MAHE has been successfully carried out by the department of student affairs MAHE, with the support of the Udupi District authorities.

“Recently, MAHE has also observed that few students have fallen prey to the drug menace. These students have been investigated internally as per MAHE's zero tolerance policy against substance abuse and are suspended from MAHE till the completion of the internal investigation. Further, they have also been referred to MAHE student counsellors to transform and to lead a normal life like others,” the report stated.

MAHE administration has thanked the Udupi district police for helping in ensuring conducive learning environment and enabling healthy learning experience for its students. It also ensured its full support in the upcoming days also to combat drug abuse and trafficking.