Dr. Sharma was having
an interaction with students of the Institute of Technical Education and
Research (ITER), run by the SOA University, while launching a new initiative of the police to reach out
to students of different educational
institutions in the twin-cities.
“It is disturbing to
see students getting involved in crime and possessing firearms as well. They
are in the most important phase of their career which can either make them an
asset or a liability for their families and society,” he said during the 90-minute long interaction.
Deputy Commissioner of
Police, Mr. Nitinjeet Singh and other senior police officials were also
present. Prof. P.K.Nanda, Dean (Research) of the University presided over the
program and also felicitated Dr. Sharma and the accompanying officials.
Stating that the
interaction with students was the first of its kind in the recent past, Dr.
Sharma said it would be continued in other educational institutions
subsequently to create awareness among the students while counseling them to
pursue a healthy lifestyle.
Dr. Sharma said he had
reports that there were 126 colleges in the city with a student strength of
around 1,70,000 of whom 40,000 were from other states. “Unfortunately, peer
pressure was driving students into drug and alcohol addiction as they wanted to
prove themselves. When students want to have their own lifestyle, it requires
money which they don’t get from their parents.”
“They try to meet the
expenses themselves and resort to petty crimes,” he said adding “once you get
into this cycle, it’s difficult to get out of it.”
Dr. Sharma advised
authorities of educational institutions to ensure discipline while providing
avenues of counseling to the students. The campus should have CCTV coverage to
observe activities and compile complete database of students to have all
information about them. The authorities should take up programs to promote
healthy life style, he said.
Mr. Nitinjeet Singh
said once the students graduated and joined work somewhere they would find it a
completely different world where they would be required to prove themselves on
a daily basis.
“You must spend your
time wisely in the campus today while developing your skills and try to be in a
hostel in the campus,” he advised.
During the interaction,
students spoke about issues of eve-teasing, drugs and unruly riding of bikes
outside the campus and suggested establishment of a police outpost near the
college.
Dr. Sharma said
establishment of a police outpost might not solve the problem but promised to
enhance security in the area. Senior faculty members of ITER also attended the
program.
