Bell of Awareness Campaign Launched to Educate Tripura School Students on HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse Risks

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, August 12, 2025

In a significant step towards combating drug abuse and preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS among adolescents, the ‘Bell of Awareness’ campaign was officially launched today at Pragna Bhavan, Agartala. The programme, inaugurated by Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha, aims to raise awareness among students from Class VIII to Class XII about the dangers of substance abuse, especially injectable drug use, which can lead to life threatening diseases like HIV/AIDS.

The campaign comes in response to alarming concerns that many teenagers fall victim to HIV/AIDS each year due to curiosity during adolescence or the influence of drug using peers. With a target audience of nearly 2,31,000 students across the state, the initiative will be implemented in 6,000 classrooms of 1,187 schools simultaneously.

Jointly organised by the Tripura State AIDS Control Society under the Health & Family Welfare Department and the Directorate of Secondary Education, the campaign will deliver intensive awareness messages about the ill effects and risks of drug abuse. The launch event also marked the beginning of the Intensified IEC Campaign, focusing on health education and preventive measures.

Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, addressing the students, stressed the importance of making informed life choices and staying away from addictive substances. He urged young people to act as ambassadors of awareness, spreading the message within their communities.

The event witnessed participation from senior officials of the Health and Education Departments, school representatives, and health educators. Students were also informed about the toll-free helpline 1097 for any HIV/AIDS-related queries.

With this mass-scale intervention, the government hopes to strengthen the fight against drug abuse and safeguard the health and future of Tripura’s youth.

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