Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday announced that his government will start a three-month-long campaign to fight the growing menace of chitta (heroin) in Himachal Pradesh. A special police cell will also be set up to “eradicate” the drug from the state, he said after a high-level meeting in Shimla.
Sukhu said the police have identified the panchayats most affected by drug abuse, and these areas will receive focused attention during the drive.
“To prevent the illegal trade and use of narcotics and drugs in the state, drug prevention committees will be formed at the panchayat level. A notification for this has been issued,” Sukhu said.
The committee will have seven members, including a chairperson, and will meet once a month. The members will prepare detailed reports on chitta activity in their area and share the information with law enforcement agencies, he added.
Anti-chitta volunteers will also be trained in colleges across the state as part of the initiative, Sukhu said.
The campaign will be started with a state-level anti-chitta rally in Shimla on November 15. The rally, which will begin from the Ridge and end at Chaura Maidan, will see participation from MLAs, officials, students, and other dignitaries, according to government sources.
Officials said the campaign will involve “strict action against the chitta mafia at the grassroots level.”
Sukhu said he will personally monitor the progress of the campaign and urged government officials, police personnel, volunteers, and students to come together to make it a success.
"A special focus will be placed on drug prevention awareness. Anti-chitta rallies will be held at the district, sub-division, and other levels," he said.
"The panchayat-level committees will organise various awareness programmes in schools and other public places on drug prevention and its adverse effects and coordinate with the respective deputy commissioners in the district," Sukhu added.
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