SHIMLA, Aug 14 — Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col) Dhani Ram Shandil administered an oath under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, a nationwide campaign against drug abuse and illegal trafficking, during a programme in Shimla.
The minister administered the oath to 96 volunteers from the National Service Scheme, National Cadet Corps, and Scouts & Guides of Government Degree College Kotshhera; 20 students from Government Degree College Sanjauli; 13 students from Himachal Pradesh University’s Department of Social Work; as well as secretariat officials, members of Gyan-Vigyan Samiti, office-bearers of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, and officials of the Social Justice and Empowerment Department. The initiative aims to make districts, the state, and the country drug-free.
Launched by the Government of India five years ago, the Drug-Free India Campaign seeks to spread awareness about the harmful effects of drugs. Last year, over 5.75 lakh people in Himachal Pradesh were educated on drug dangers through the National Drug Prevention Campaign. Awareness activities reached 5,660 villages and 4,332 educational institutions, targeting adolescents, youth, women, and the general public.
“The state government has taken strict action against drugs. Two bills have been recently passed in the Assembly addressing drug abuse and related crimes,” Shandil said. He noted that the legislation includes provisions for the death penalty, life imprisonment, fines up to ₹10 lakh, property confiscation, rehabilitation, preventive education, and livelihood support. “Under the PIT NDPS Act, Himachal Pradesh Police has seized illegal property worth ₹42 crore, identified the property of 70 traffickers, and detained 44 notorious drug peddlers,” he added.
The campaign is actively run at the panchayat level to identify smugglers and users. A special task force has been formed to conduct anti-drug operations, and 13 police stations have been notified for the purpose.
Shandil also announced that a 100-bed, fully equipped modern de-addiction centre will be established at Kotla Barog in Sirmaur district, with ₹5.34 crore already approved. “The Directorate of ESOMSA is collaborating with NITI Aayog, the National Dependence Treatment Centre at AIIMS Delhi, and PGI Chandigarh to prepare a detailed state action plan for drug prevention,” he said. Existing de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in the state include four for men in Kullu, Una, Hamirpur, and Kangra districts, and one for women run by the Red Cross Society in Kullu.
