The Avadi City Police on Monday launched a ‘Drug-Free School Zone’ with the aim of curbing sale of banned tobacco products within 100 yards of school premises. 

The is the first-such initiative to prevent school students from falling prey to tobacco products. 

The Government of Tamil Nadu has launched special enforcement drives to curb the sale of tobacco and tobacco-related products, particularly in the vicinity of educational institutions. It has directed authorities including the police and local bodies, to undertake targeted enforcement actions to ensure strict compliance with anti-tobacco laws.

“Following those orders to curb the sale of tobacco products near school premises, “We have chosen 200 government and government-aided schools and declared them drug-free zones,” Avadi City Police Commissioner K. Shankar said while inaugurating the programme at the government school in Thandurai near Pattabiram. 

Mr. Shankar administered the anti-drug pledge to school students, and explained the steps taken by the State government to address the menace of tobacco usage.

The police also demarcated the zones using white paint and barricades.