Jharkhand launches 17-day anti-drug campaign

The Jharkhand government has launched a special campaign against drugs and drug abuse across the state from June 10. Under this, by June 26, the message of de-addiction will be delivered to all schools, colleges, villages and cities of the state and lakhs of people will be administered oath to stay away from drugs.

State Health Minister Irfan Ansari flagged off the anti-drug awareness chariots to different parts of the state after a workshop held at Jharkhand Mantralaya on Tuesday. He also released a booklet on ill effects of narcotics prepared by the Home Department and Information Public Relations Department.

The Health Minister said that Chief Minister Hemant Soren has resolved to make Jharkhand drug-free and under this, a special statewide campaign is being started from today.

Under the campaign, publicity vehicles will go to all districts, awareness programs will be conducted in schools and colleges. Referring to the several actions taken this year to check poppy cultivation in various districts of Jharkhand, he said drug addiction and its trade is ruining people socially, mentally and economically.

The government has also taken necessary steps to prevent the use of many medicines as intoxicants. Under this, medical stores are being monitored. CCTVs have been installed in more than 4,000 stores in 10,134 medical stores across the state. This work will be completed soon in the rest of the stores.

Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Kumar, who was also present on the occasion, said, "Drug abuse is a matter of grave concern, yet we are not able to talk about it openly. We have to tell people about the consequences. Through public awareness, we have to explain to the youth and children. The drug trade is increasing in big cities like Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Palamu, Bokaro etc.

Principal Secretary, Home Department, Vandana Dadel said that people fall into the trap of intoxication and face financial stress, domestic violence and other problems. Such people become a challenge to society and law and order. We all need to fight this problem together. DGP Anurag Gupta said that ganja and other narcotics are supplied from states bordering Jharkhand.

The police have taken major steps towards stopping this supply chain. Now the time has come to punish the opium cultivators severely, so that people stop cultivating them. A message should go from the government that anyone who cultivates opium will be put in jail. Officials, employees and others of various departments were present on the occasion.