Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday said that there was an urgent need to collectively fight the evil of drug abuse by making the campaign a mass movement for creation of ill effects of drug abuse.
Addressing the people on the occasion of special campaign on ‘Prevention of Drug Abuse and Alcoholism’ launched by the State Social Justice and Empowerment department from here, he said the State Government had launched multi-pronged strategy to wipe out this evil from the society.
The special campaign on prevention of drug abuse and alcoholism was also launched at district level across the State.
Thakur said that medical practitioners had a major role to play to sensitise the people visiting hospitals and similarly teachers should also motivate the students to stay away from drugs. He said that police should adopt pro-active approach to crack down drug peddlers so that this nefarious cycle could be broken.
The Chief Minister said that it was on his initiative that seven northern states have come together to not only share information regarding drug abuse, but also to chalk out a joint strategy to curb this social vice. The State Government has decided to open five de-addiction centres in the state and first has been dedicated today established in a private hospital at New Shimla. He said that this would provide relief to the drug addicts to come out from this social vice.
He said that State tourism hotels should also come forward to requesting the visitors to stay away from drugs. This would go a long way in making Himachal Pradesh a real ‘Dev Bhoomi’ of the country.
The Chief Minister online inaugurated drug de-addiction centre at New Shimla from The Ridge and website of Himachal Pradesh State Mental Health Authority. He also released posters regarding sensitising the masses regarding ill effects of drug abuse and publicity material prepared by the Shimla district administration. Thakur also flagged off anti-drug rally on the occasion.
The students of Yoga department of H.P. University gave an impressive presentation on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said that the increasing cases of drug abuse in the state was indeed a matter of concern. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Rajiv Saizal said that the future of any nation lies on the shoulders of our youth, but unfortunately the youth today have fallen in the trap of drug abuse. Additional Chief Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment Nisha Singh said that the one month special campaign has been launched from today in the State to sensitise the people regarding ill effects of the drug abuse.
