Haryana news: Drug addiction a major challenge, admits CM; vows to eliminate it
Flagging off Drug-Free Haryana Cyclothon 2.0 here today, CM Nayab Singh Saini admitted that drug addiction was emerging as a major challenge in today’s society, and said the government was determined to eliminate drugs through a united mission involving public participation.
He said the campaign would spread the message of a drug-free Haryana to every corner of the state, playing a vital role in raising awareness among the younger generation.
Addressing the youth, he said a Special Task Force was taking strict measures against traffickers. Besides, 52 de-addiction centres had been established across the state to support recovery and rehabilitation efforts, he said.
“It is a proud day for Haryana as we observe the holy days of Navratri, the youth of the state have taken a solemn pledge to eliminate drugs from Haryana,” he said. Reiterating Haryana’s rich cultural identity, he said, “Desha maa desh Haryana, jeet doodh dahi ka khana — wrestling is the pride of Haryana. Our strong wrestlers, valiant soldiers, and dedicated farmers define who we are. There is no room for drugs in such a state,” the CM said.
Over the next three weeks, the cyclothon would travel across every village to create awareness and mobilise public support. He claimed that the previous Cyclothon, spanning 25 days, saw a participation of 1,77,200 cyclists and was a success.
The CM said drugs not only destroyed health but also posed a serious threat to the well-being of the community and the nation. He said drug abuse was directly linked to rising crime rates, including serious offences, such as arms smuggling and illegal transactions.
He informed that the State Action Plan to combat drug abuse was launched on May 5, 2023, with a three-pronged approach of public awareness campaigns, de-addiction and rehabilitation, and strict action against traffickers. Alongside enforcement, large-scale campaigns were being conducted, and efforts were underway to rehabilitate youth and reintegrate them into the mainstream.
The CM said special de-addiction wards had been established at government medical colleges, while de-addiction centres had been established in 13 district civil hospitals. Further, treatment and counselling facilities were being strengthened at primary and community health centres. The campaign also included active participation of gram panchayats, ensuring that the message reached the grassroots.
The government had launched a toll-free helpline to provide assistance to addicts and receive public reports on drug-related activities. A dedicated portal ‘Manas’ had also been created, allowing citizens to anonymously report information about drug smugglers. The identity of the informant would be kept confidential.
He added that the government had taken strong action by confiscating properties of those involved in trafficking. To strengthen enforcement, ‘Hawk’ software and ‘Prayas’ mobile app had been developed, which would help maintain a centralised database of criminals, victims, and drug-related incidents. In addition, ‘Dhaakad’ programme had been launched in schools, colleges, and universities to protect children and youth from falling into the trap of addiction. Anti-Narcotics Cells had also been set up at the district, range, and state levels.
Public Health Engineering Minister Ranbir Gangwa said the campaign launched today from Hisar would play a pivotal role in spreading awareness against drug abuse.
Haryana Tribune