Tipplers turn this Chennai school area into drinking zone

Chennai: Students of Vidhya Matric School in Jalladianpet do not just brave traffic and dust pollution due to the ongoing metro rail work, but also unpredictable tipplers who drink just a stone's throw away from their school. From lying on the pavements near the school to occasionally consuming drinks near the gate, boozers are causing issues to a section of staff and students from time to time. "A few weeks ago, I passed a man who was lying on the road on my way home. My friends have also witnessed such instances," a student said.Security personnel, however, said such acts were mostly limited to after-school hours. "People buy liquor from the shop and sometimes drink opposite the school or in Thiruvalluvar Nagar Street, opposite the gate," a security guard said.A visit by TOI revealed that the Tasmac shop was 90m from the school — just 40m more than the permissible limit to set up liquor shops near educational institutions and hospitals in corporations and municipalities. An official from the school management said that though the tipplers have not created any major ruckus yet, relocating it would be beneficial in the larger interest of students."In the past, we have faced issues with petty shops near the school selling cigarettes and tobacco products. We later got them sealed. For the Tasmac shop, we haven't raised a complaint yet as no major incident has happened. But we will be glad if it is removed," the official said.When contacted, Tasmac district manager Mageswari Kanchi said the outlet was functioning well within the ambit of law. "Only in panchayats is the mandated distance for a Tasmac shop from a school 100m. In corporations and municipalities, it is 50m. If there are any issues with miscreants, the school can raise a complaint and we can coordinate with the police to see what can be done," she said.Educationists, however, feel that authorities should approach the issue from a moral angle, not a legal one. "Seeing people drink in person can create a negative influence on students, resulting in social disorder. There have been several such cases in the past. Authorities cannot say they are legally safe, hiding behind a 40-m safe zone. The govt must relocate the shop," said S Arumainathan, TN students parents welfare association.