Kerala plans ban on intoxicants sale near schools

As part of its ongoing campaign against drug abuse among the youth, the Kerala government plans to bring in a legislation preventing sale of intoxicating substances, including tobacco products, within 500 metres of any educational institution in the state. Stating that the government has decided to expand the 'clean campus-safe campus' programme to colleges also, state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said restrictions on sale of drugs within 100 metres of educational institutions would be amended with a new legislation. The ban on such sales would be imposed within 500 metres of educational institutions through a legislation, Chennithala said, adding, police would conduct raids on shops near schools and would bring the guilty. The state has already asked the Centre to make necessary amendments to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act to make the punishment stringent, he said.