Punjab’s Bhagwant Mann government starts training 21,850 teachers across 12 districts to help educators spot signs of drug abuse and respond to students’ mental health needs. The programme begins in several districts and focuses on early identification of distress and substance use in schools.
The initiative is described as part of a broader effort to reduce drug demand while improving student well-being. The Hindu and Times of India both report that the training is underway and will be conducted over multiple districts rather than statewide in a single phase. Times of India specifies that the effort started last week and is designed to equip teachers with skills to recognize early warning signals. Across the coverage, the common emphasis is the role of teachers in early detection and support within school settings, framed as a proactive public health and education measure.
