Social Justice & Empowerment and Health & Family Welfare Minister Dr (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil on Tuesday urged the youth, women, senior officers, employees and citizens of Himachal Pradesh to stay aware of the ill effects of drug abuse, participate actively in the collective fight against drugs, and commit themselves to eliminating this menace from society.
Addressing a state-level event organised here to mark the completion of five years of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, he said the campaign has been running successfully across all states for the past five years with the aim of spreading awareness among youth about the harmful effects of substance abuse.
He said efforts are being made at both the national and state levels to build a drug-free society. On the occasion, he also administered an anti-drug pledge to all participants, including a large number of youths.
Highlighting the initiatives and strong steps taken by the state government against drug abuse, he said that two important bills have been passed in the State Assembly. These include stringent provisions such as the death penalty, life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10 lakh for drug traffickers, along with attachment of illegally acquired property. The bills also provide strict punishments and fines for those involved in illegal drug trade and include provisions to establish a State Fund to support de-addiction, rehabilitation, preventive education and livelihood assistance.
Dr Shandil said the ‘Chitta Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ was recently launched from Shimla by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, during which citizens took a pledge to uproot the drug menace. He said if people collectively resolve to create a drug-free environment in their homes, neighbourhoods, communities and the State, and stay away from this social evil, they will certainly succeed in building a drug-free Himachal and a drug-free India.
The Minister also joined the national-level programme organised at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, through an online platform. Under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, around 23 crore people across the country have been made aware of the harmful effects of drug abuse over the past five years.
More than seven lakh programmes have been organised through over 20,000 master volunteers, and about 16.72 lakh educational institutions have participated in the National Online Pledge.
A special interaction session between senior citizens and school students was also held on this occasion, during which the elderly encouraged students to stay away from drugs. They shared their experiences and highlighted the negative impact of drug addiction on a person’s life. They appealed to students to spread the message of the positive impact of a drug-free lifestyle in their homes and surroundings, and to inspire others through their conduct.
Aisha, a Class 10 student of Government Senior Secondary School, Sanjauli, conveyed a message through a poem, urging youth to avoid drugs and spend meaningful time with elders to gain life lessons.
Students of Government College Kotshera, Shimla, presented a skit depicting the grave challenge posed by drug abuse. The skit highlighted the rising addiction among youth, its adverse impact on intellectual, mental and physical health, and the responsibilities of parents, teachers, friends, police and society in overcoming this challenge.
Also Read: NGT pulls up Himachal govt over Kullu waste crisis
Follow us
