himachal-s-una-tops-nationwide-anti-drug-campaign

Himachal Pradesh's Una district has been adjudged as the 'top performer' in the country for implementing the joint action plan 'Ek Yudh Nashe Ke Virudh', a nationwide initiative to combat drug abuse. Deputy Commissioner Una Jatin Lal, on Friday, accepted the award from Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on June 30.

Una District was the first in the country to launch this initiative, a collaborative effort between the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Narcotics Control Bureau, in February 2021. The program aims to raise awareness about the dangers of drugs and substance abuse in educational institutions.

He said that various departments have made commendable contributions to the 'Nasha Mukt Una Abhiyan' (drug-free Una campaign), which was implemented as a pilot project and has shown positive results.

Lal said that under the campaign, 26,000 students were engaged through various skill and life development programmes at school and college levels to raise awareness against drug abuse. Additionally, about 247 teachers and school heads received training.

The main objective of the programme was to strengthen the emotional and mental health of students and keep them away from negative thoughts that could lead to drug addiction, he said.

Along with this, 'Har Ghar Dastak Abhiyan' was also conducted in Una to raise awareness against drug abuse in one lakh houses, Lal said. Under this initiative, people were made aware of the ill effects of drugs, he added.

The deputy commissioner thanked Una residents for joining the 'Nasha Mukt Una Abhiyan' and expressed hope that they will continue to cooperate in future campaigns to make the district drug-free.