Almost 1200 students, including some from esteemed institutions, dropped out of school in the past two years due to drug abuse. There is a 30 per cent increase in the number of dropouts from various schools in the city during the last two years, according to women and child welfare department officials.

Among the dropout cases, officials found that most of the children were addicted to ganja. "Children in the age group of 13-17 take to ganja. In the case of children who are out of school, whitener abuse is most rampant," Keeping this in mind, the welfare department and NGOs will initiate a year-long programme to restore normal life to children with such disturbed childhoods in the city on the occasion of Children's Day in the city. The officials also said the number of child abuse cases has also increased in the city with most cases getting reported through child rights clubs which were started two years ago in various schools. While the number of students who reported abuse in the city is around 229, most of them are from corporate schools.

The NGO would hold a state conference for 'run away' children from various districts to share their experiences during a three-day workshop at the office of the women and child welfare department in Yousufguda.