New Delhi, Sept. 5 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged teachers to look beyond students' academic performance and remain attentive to changes in their behaviour and everyday lives, particularly warning about drug addiction and excessive screen use. He also called on teachers to preserve childhood innocence, nurture curiosity and instil the "dignity of labour."

Modi was interacting with winners of the National Teachers Awards at his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg on Friday evening, a day before Teachers' Day. The interaction comes at a time when teachers are increasingly being called upon to address challenges affecting children beyond formal classroom learning.

This year, 82 teachers and educators have been selected for the Na...