A snakebite awareness campaign will be held across tribal residential schools and hostels in Thane district from September 19 to 26, with students being trained in prevention, emergency response and scientifically appropriate first aid. The campaign will cover government and aided ashram schools, Eklavya Model Residential Schools and hostels operated under the Tribal Development Department.
The initiative targets institutions located in hilly, remote and forest-edge areas, where students may come into contact with snakes, scorpions and other wildlife. Special awareness sessions of at least one hour will be organised at each participating school and hostel, according to the campaign plan reported by Loksatta – Thane.
Local snake rescuers, snake experts, health officials and forest department personnel will support the sessions. Students will be taught to maintain a safe distance if a snake is seen, move away calmly and avoid trying to catch or kill it. The guidance is intended to reduce the risk of further bites and prevent unsafe attempts to handle wildlife.
The programme will also address what students should do after a snakebite. They will be advised to minimise the affected person’s movement and arrange immediate admission to the nearest health centre rather than relying on unverified remedies or incorrect first-aid practices. The sessions will specifically caution students against superstition, misconceptions and potentially harmful treatment methods linked to snakebites.
The campaign follows the Maharashtra government’s decision to include snakebite as a notified disease on August 18, 2026. This classification makes timely reporting and monitoring of snakebite cases necessary, while also requiring updated information on health centres and storage facilities where anti-snake venom is available.
For residential schools in remote locations, the notification-related requirements place greater emphasis on knowing where treatment is available and how quickly affected students can be moved to a health facility. The campaign will therefore also focus on strengthening emergency arrangements at ashram schools and hostels, although the report does not specify the number of institutions covered or the health centres designated for each location.
The planned sessions combine public health guidance with forest and wildlife safety. By involving the health and forest departments alongside local experts, the initiative is designed to provide students with information on both avoiding encounters and responding appropriately when a bite occurs. The awareness programme is scheduled to run from September 19 to 26 across the covered institutions.
