Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh today attended as the chief guest at the capacity building training programme being organised for government school teachers under the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Maha Singh Gate, and interacted with the teachers.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Balbir Singh said that teachers have the most significant role in guiding students’ behaviour in the right direction, keeping them away from drugs, and making them mentally strong. He stated that teachers are the “nation builders” and expressed confidence that they would play a major role in making the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign a mass movement.
He informed that the Punjab Government, in collaboration with Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute of Medical Sciences, Mohali, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and DITSU, is running this flagship programme with the support of mental health experts. Under the programme, 1,400 principals from nine districts of Punjab are being trained.
He further said that the initiative commenced in Amritsar, where 3,238 teachers of the district will be trained over a period of 16 days. The training sessions will be organised at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Maha Singh Gate (Shivala), Saragarhi Memorial School of Eminence, Town Hall at Mall Mandi, and Senior Secondary Residential School for Meritorious Students, Amritsar.
The Health Minister said that under the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, school teachers have been entrusted with the responsibility of spreading awareness among students about drug abuse, identifying mental health-related issues, and motivating the younger generation towards a positive lifestyle. He added that education and sensitive teachers can lay the foundation of a drug-free and mentally strong Punjab.
He also informed that the trainers conducting these sessions had earlier undergone a special two-day training programme at Guru Nanak Dev University by experts from Tata Institute of Social Sciences and DITSU, after which they are now imparting training to school teachers. On this occasion, the Cabinet Minister was warmly welcomed by District Education Officer Mr. Rajesh Kumar, Deputy District Education Officer Mr. Rajesh Khanna, and Principal Madam J. K. Shingari.
The District Education Officer said that under the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, the Education Department is continuously making special efforts in schools for behavioural development and awareness against drug abuse. He added that special curriculum and activities are being developed to encourage students to become mentally strong, responsible, and stay away from drugs.
Among those present on the occasion were District Nodal In-charge Sardar Sukhwinder Singh, Mukhtar Singh, Mrs. Raminder Bajaj, Taran and Nishchay from DITSU Chandigarh, along with school teachers.