Haryana Commences State-Wide Month-Long Drive Against Drugs

Haryana Chief Secretary T V S N Prasad has instructed all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to initiate a month-long campaign against drug abuse across the state. During a state-level Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) meeting, he emphasised the need for coordinated efforts from civil and police administration, health, social welfare, and education departments to ensure the campaign's success.

Prasad urged the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to intensify actions against drug peddlers in Haryana. He stressed the importance of regular meetings with educational institution heads to safeguard youth from drug addiction. All Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police attended the meeting via video conference, according to an official statement.

Drug Seizures and Arrests

Between January and June, authorities registered 1,653 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, arresting 2,196 individuals. Additionally, 428 people were convicted in NDPS cases, and eight preventive detention orders were issued under the PIT-NDPS Act. The seizures included 12 kg heroin, 69 kg charas, 3,440 kg ganja (cannabis), 130 kg opium, 6,616 kg poppy straw, and 1,64,790 pharmaceutical drugs.

The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has approved 14 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) for various district hospitals in Haryana. Two ATFs have already been established in Bahadurgarh (Jhajjar) and Tohana (Fatehabad). Monthly visits by District Mental Health Teams to schools, colleges, and jails are being conducted to raise awareness about drug abuse.

Coordination and Monitoring Efforts

A working group led by Additional Chief Secretary G Anupama has been formed to ensure effective implementation of anti-drug programmes. This group will maintain coordination among all stakeholder departments. Prasad also directed Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) to conduct surprise inspections at drug de-addiction centres in their districts.

The Haryana Prisons Department has set up 15 drug de-addiction centres across various jails under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction. These centres have made significant progress in addressing inmate drug addiction. A committee has been formed to develop a periodic rating system for these centres, which is currently awaiting approval.

Technological Measures

Officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Department are discussing various apps to track drug addicts undergoing treatment. The PRAYAS and SATHI apps are being updated for this purpose. Additionally, Punjab's Drug De-addiction Registry Portal is being reviewed for potential adoption.

The School Education Department of Haryana has intensified efforts to combat drug abuse among students. Directions have been issued to all District Education Officers (DEOs) and District Elementary Education Officers (DEEOs) to conduct regular awareness activities. To support these efforts, 9,306 Prahari Clubs have been established in schools across the state. These clubs monitor school vicinities and identify at-risk students for early intervention.

Action has also been taken against 102 habitual offenders with crime proceeds worth Rs 48.34 crore confiscated. The Chief Secretary directed senior civil and police officials to diligently work towards making Haryana drug-free. Strengthening information gathering systems was highlighted as crucial for achieving this vision.

The campaign aims to create a comprehensive approach involving multiple departments to tackle the drug menace effectively. By focusing on prevention, enforcement, treatment, and rehabilitation, Haryana hopes to significantly reduce drug abuse within its borders.