HP CM sets up STF to curb drug menace; launches ‘Nasha Nahin, Zindagi Chunne’ campaign Says drug de-addiction policy to curb drug menace in hill state

| | Shimla
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HP CM sets up STF to curb drug menace; launches ‘Nasha Nahin, Zindagi Chunne’ campaign Says drug de-addiction policy to curb drug menace in hill state

Monday, 27 June 2022 | PNS | Shimla

Himachal Pradesh Government on Sunday announced to set to a Special Task Force (STF) to curb the drug menace in the State, besides launching the ‘Nasha Nahin, Zindagi Chunne’ campaign — an initiative of the Department of State Taxes and Excise and HP Nasha Niwaran Board.

“The State Government is committed to eradicate drug menace from the State, for which an Integrated Drug De-addiction Policy has been adopted. The State Government has constituted a Nasha Niwaran Board. As many as 73 posts of Police personnel would be created and filled up in the Department of State Taxes and Excise for effective implementation of Excise NDPS and other regulatory legislations. This would not only safeguard Government revenue but also re-assert Government’s commitment to combat drug menace in a holistic manner,” he said while also initiating the process of ‘Excise Police Force’ on the occasion.

Stating that it was the need of the hour to make the campaign against drug abuse a people’s movement, Thakur said that only then, this demon of drug abuse could be defeated and the younger generation could be saved from this social vice.

“Advancement in technology has made curbing the menace quite challenging,” he said while advising the Police Department to remain a step ahead to nab those engaged in drug peddling.

The Chief Minister said that the better coordination between the Police of neighbouring States was vital only then the chain of drug peddling could be broken. He said that it was on his initiative that steps were taken to chalk out a joint strategy to check drug menace in the region. “A meeting was held at Panchkula in Haryana in which Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir participated. All the Chief Ministers and representatives of other northern States agreed to share the information regarding drug trafficking. Another meeting was hosted by Punjab in which Chief Ministers of Rajasthan and Delhi also participated,” he said.

Thakur said that the State Government also started a special de-addiction helpline under the Chief Minister helpline-1100. This helpline aims at providing counselling and guidance to the patients, he said.

He said that the State Government has made drug peddling a non-bailable offence to check drug peddling. “The State Government is determined to curb the problem of drug menace in the State as it continues to be a serious social problem across the State and country. With a view to check drug menace, the State Government has chalked out a comprehensive plan to make Himachal Pradesh a drug-free State,” he said.

“A major part of the anti-drug strategy of the State Government focuses on certain drugs originally derived from plant sources such as cannabis and opium. The State Government has taken stringent steps against cultivation and for eradication of these drug generating plants. Property worth Rs 20 crore was attached by the State Government earned by the drug peddlers and those involved in this illegal trade,” he added.

Thakur also advised the parents to keep an eye on the behavioural changes in their children. He also advised the parents to spend quality time with their children. He also urged the teachers of schools and other educational institutions to keep strict vigil on the activities going on in their institutions as the drug peddlers specifically target these institutions. “Special drives to curb drug menace amongst the youth must be regularly organized near schools and colleges from time to time under the Community Policing Scheme,” he stressed.

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