The Naga Students Federation (NSF) found that there is a rising number of students resorting to the usage of tobacco and alcohol.
This was one of the findings of the federation’s first phase education tour to various government-run educational institutions in Dimapur and Wokha districts and Tseminyu sub-division.
The tour commenced on October 12, NSF president Kegwayhun Tep and education secretary Medovi Rhi said in a press statement on Wednesday.
The federation appealed to all the educational institutions to ensure that no students resort to such vices within the educational premises.
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It asked its federating units and village-level student unions to ensure that no shops within 200-metre radius of any schools or colleges sell any tobacco products. Stringent actions must be initiated against any individual who acts in contravention of this rule, it said.
The officials of the federation, accompanied by the leaders of its federating units, are conducting the tour.
The second phase of the exercise was carried out in Nagaland‘s Kohima district on October 26.
While visiting the various government educational institutions, the NSF team took stock of the situation at ground zero pertaining to the implementation of various flagship programmes, students’ enrolment in the institutions and availability of teachers.
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It also took stock of the infrastructural status of the institutions.
The team also interacted with the students and teachers in order to fully understand their grievances which have been further aggravated by the Covid19 pandemic, the statement said.
The federation said it will be touring all the districts within its jurisdiction and will submit a comprehensive report to the state government along with its suggestions once the entire exercise is completed within this calendar year.
The federation asked all its federating units and subordinate bodies to extend their fullest cooperation to all the educational institutions within their jurisdiction and ensure that the process of dissemination of education is carried out smoothly.
“They must ensure that steps are for the students who are hard hit by the pandemic to excel in their academic pursuit, particularly in the rural areas,” the statement of the Naga Students Federation added.