Chapter to be included in school curriculum to raise awareness about drug abuse : Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the State Government was set to include one chapter on raising awareness about drug abuse in the school curriculum. While presiding over a function organized on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Chief Minister urged every section of the society to be a part and join the drive against drug abuse to make Himachal Pradesh a drug free State. 

The vision of a prosperous country can only be realized by channelizing the energy of the youth in right direction. He said that our Government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against the use and trafficking of drugs.

The Chief Minister said that the State Government is going to act tough against the government employees involved in drug trafficking. He said, “I want to give a clear message to the people of the State that there is no place for drugs in Devbhoomi.” 

He reiterated the youth of the State should join the fight against drugs, help oneself and others as well to come out of this evil. Sh. Sukhu said that the State Government remains committed and will continue its relentless efforts to crack down on drug networks and take stern action against the offenders. 

He said that our government was focused on providing employment opportunities and encouraging skill development for those recovering from addiction, thereby integrating them back into mainstream society. He said that the State Government has approved the establishment of a fully equipped 100 bedded De-addiction Centre in Kotla Barog in Sirmaur district with an outlay of Rs. 5.34 crore and construction work of this project would start this year. 

He said that the government was working to establish a district level de-addiction centre in each district. The Chief Minister said that the present State Government approved the implementation of PIT-NDPS Act soon after assuming power which the previous BJP Government could not implement during its five-year long tenure.

The Chief Minister also administered the Anti-Drug pledge and honoured various organizations and individuals on the occasion for their outstanding contributions in checking drug abuse in the State. These include Dr. Satyavart Vidya, Incharge, Additional Treatment Facility, Bhuntar, District Kullu,  Prof. Sachin Kumar, Principal, Wazir Ram Singh Government Degree College, Dehri, district Kangra, Kalgidhar Trust (Society) Baru Sahib, district Sirmaur, Ek Pahal Welfare Society, Bilaspur,  Gunjan Organization for Community Development, district Una, Gaurav Singh, Superintendent of Police, Solan, Jai Baba Kamlahiya- Aradhana, Hamirpur, Manav Kalyan Sewa Samiti, Karai, Chopal, district Shimla, Narender Chauhan, Chairman Anti Drug Force Rohru, Chirgaon, district Shimla, Prajapita Brahma Kumari Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya, district Mandi and Gram Panchayat Jagatkhana, Development Block Nirmand, district Kullu.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil stated that much more still needs to be done in the fight against drug abuse. He emphasized the need for a large-scale movement akin to the freedom struggle and every individual must actively participate to uproot this evil. 

He said that the drug peddlers were enemies of the society. However, the present State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is taking strict action against the drug menace. 

He said that the values and discipline must begin at home to prevent the youth from falling prey to drugs which is essential for the success of any anti drug campaign. Parents and teachers should maintain regular dialogue with children and encourage them to actively participate in sports and other constructive activities.

Experts of various fields also discussed in detail the harmful effects of drug abuse and measures for prevention. Specially abled children from Dhalli orphanage home performed on the occasion, besides students from Government Degree College, Kotshera, district Shimla, presented a skit to raise awareness on the issue of drug addiction.

MLA Sanjay Awasthy, Political Advisor to Chief Minister Sunil Sharma, Mayor, MC Shimla Surender Chauhan alongwith Councilors, Secretaries M. Sudha Devi, Rakhil Kahlon and Ashish Singhmar, Commissioner Excise and Taxation Yunus and ADGP CID Gyaneshwar Singh, Director ESOMSA Sumit Kimta and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.