Panaji: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Girish Chodankar has strongly questioned the Government’s decision to focus on a 500-metre radius around schools as a measure to protect children from drugs, saying that drug protection cannot stop at an arbitrary boundary.
“Protecting our children from drugs is non-negotiable. But the Government must answer a simple question—why only 500 metres? What happens at 501 metres?” Chodankar asked.
He said that if drugs are genuinely a threat to Goa’s children and society, the Government’s responsibility cannot end at the school gate or at an imaginary 500-metre circle.
“Goa does not need selective Drug-Free Zones. Goa needs to become a DRUG-FREE STATE. Instead of drawing circles around schools and shifting responsibility onto school heads, the BJP Government must explain why Goa’s drug network continues to flourish and who is protecting it,” he said.
Chodankar questioned whether the Government was merely trying to create an impression of action while failing to dismantle the supply chain operating across the State.
“Don’t draw a 500-metre circle around the problem. Destroy the drug network across Goa. Our children deserve protection not just within 500 metres of their schools, but everywhere—in their neighbourhoods, playgrounds, colleges, villages and cities,” he said.
He demanded that the Government focus on identifying and dismantling the entire drug supply network, rather than placing the burden of enforcement on educational institutions.
“Parents want action, students deserve safety and Goa demands accountability. The Government must stop managing the optics of the drug problem and start eliminating the problem itself,” Chodankar said.
