'Keep campuses clean & educate students to prevent dengue'

Kolkata: The state Higher Education department has asked the heads of all colleges to take measures to keep their campuses clean and to make students aware of the steps to be taken to prevent dengue and chikungunya.

A notice issued by the Director of Public Instruction (DPI) of the department directs the colleges to take immediate "measures against dengue and chikungunya". The steps, according to the directive are in accordance with the guidelines of the directorate of health services.

The notice further lists the steps that the colleges need to take for fighting the diseases. Each institute has to distribute awareness leaflets to students, clean the campuses/premises before the commencement of class after a long vacation, circulate education and communication (IEC) materials provided by the state Health and Family Welfare department among the students and involve NSS volunteers in spreading awareness.

Every college has been directed to treat the notice as "extremely urgent" and submit a report to the department within 15 days stating in detail the action taken by the institutions.

It may be mentioned that this is the second time this year when the state Higher Education department has issued a notice to the colleges asking them to keep their premises clean and take measures against the spread of dengue. The first was issued in March.