State Government would set up Drug De-Addiction Centres in all the 12 districts of the State and special campaign to be launched to vigorously enforce the law against traders selling tobacco products within a radius of 100 yards of the educational institutions.
Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, gave a clarion call to every section of the society to make prohibition a mass movement and save the youth from falling prey to drugs and other intoxication substances.He was addressing State Level function of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, organized by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, in the historic Gaiety Theatre, here today. He said that it was the social responsibility of every section of the society to rise against drug abuse and save youth from becoming addictive of the same. He said that the State had already opened two drug de-addiction centres at Kullu and Dharamshala besides two others in IGMC and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Kangra at Tanda. He said that with the setting up of one drug de-addiction centre in every district youth would be protected against drug abuse.
Chief Minister said that strict legal provisions had been made to check drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the State and were being enforced stringently. He said that the State Government would launch special campaign against the illicit drug traffickers and traders involved in selling tobacco and its allied products to the people within a radius of 100 yards of all the educational institutions where policemen would be patrolling. He said that special flying squads would be constituted and its patrolling beefed up against anti-social elements involved in drug trafficking. He said that Special Prohibition Awareness Campaigns would also be launched through educational institutions to sensitize young generations about the drastic impact of drug and tobacco use. He said that toll free helpline would also be started in association with Non-Governmental Organisation to provide information relating to the drug de-addiction to any person. He said that there were a number of NGOs working in the field and educating the society about prohibition through different modes of communication. He said that with the launch of toll free helpline it would be convenient to the people to gather any information with regard to prohibition. He added that in addition to give boost to extra-curricular activities additional educational curriculum would be prepared and implemented besides introducing chapters on prohibition, Yoga and Matryrs of the State to inspire and channelize energy of the youth towards constrictive and positive activities.
Prof. Dhumal said that the State Government had constituted a separate directorate of Health Safety and Regulation to vigorously enforce the legal provisions related to health activities. He said that State Government had created one additional post of drug controller and four posts of drug inspectors to further strengthen the inspection wing of pharmaceuticals. He said that all the posts concerning drug control administration were being filled up on priority. He said that Health Department had raided 78 suspected places to check trafficking of banned drugs out of which 34 were being pursued in the court of law. He said that Narcotics Wing was also functioning in the Police Department under the control of a Superintendant of Police which had also registered 266 cases against the people involved in drug trafficking out of which action had been taken against 264 persons.
Chief Minister cautioned parents and guardians to keep an eye over the activities of their growing children to ensure that they were not easy targets to the drug traffickers. He also honoured the winners of Slogan Writing Competition organized by the Department of Information and Public Relations.
Shri Devi Singh Verma of Sarswati Vidya Mandir, Shimla was declared First; Shri Kshamender Mishra of Shimla declared Second and Shri Shiv Dev Rana, Technical Assistant, Technical Education Department, Sundernagar, Third. He also honoured the winners of the District level competition besides honouring the winners of Poster Writing Competition organized by the Department of Language and Culture.
Shri Suresh Bhardwaj, local MLA, thanked Chief Minister for making Shimla Smoking Free town which was saving large number of people in overcoming their various health problems. He requested for beefing up of patrolling around the educational institutions to check drug trafficking.
Smt. Rajwant Sandhu, Chief Secretary, detailed out the initiatives taken by the State Government for implementing the regulations relating to prohibition. She said that regular meetings were being held to monitor the progress of field agencies which were working in close coordination to check drug abuse. She said that printed, electronic and documentaries etc. were also produced which aimed at creating awareness in the society. She said that Shimla had emerged the first ‘Smoking Free’ town in the State. She underlined the need to give boost to sports activities with a view to chennelise the energy of the youth towards positive activities.
Shri P.C.Dhiman, Principal Secretary, Health, welcomed the Chief Minister and detailed various activities being taken by the department aimed at creating mass awareness about drug abuse.
Shri A.R.Siddiquie, Inspector General of Police gave a presentation on the theme of drug abuse.Shri Rohit Jamwal, Director, Health Safety and Regulation proposed vote of thanks.
Message conveying cultural programmes were also presented.
Shri Ganesh Datt, Vice-Chairman, HIMUDA, Dr. D.S.Manhas, Director General of Police, Shri I.D.Bhandari and Shri S.R.Mardi, Additional Director Generals of Police, Shri Onkar Sharma, D.C, Shimla, Shri Maneesh Garg, Director of Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Sonal Agnihotri, S.P, Shimla. Shri B.D.Sharma, Director of Information and Public Relations, Dr. Vinod Pathak, Director of Health Services, Dr. Jayshree Sharma, Director of Medical Education and other senior officers of various departments were present on the occasion.