Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today flagged off awareness rally against drug abuse organized by Himachal Pradesh Police Department on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at Ridge here today.Chief Minister also inaugurated the LED Display Screen at Police Control Room at The Mall, Shimla. Over 2000 students from 29 schools of Shimla town, NGOs, students of ITI and Nursing Colleges participated in the awareness rally.Chief Minister also administered oath to the students and other participants on the occasion against drug abuse.Speaking to media persons at the sidelines of the function, Chief Minister said that drug abuse particularly amongst the younger generation was a cause of concern universally. He said that collective steps by government, non government organizations, parents and others were needed to eradicate these social evils. He said that Police Department was organizing various awareness campaigns against drug abuse to sensitize the students and people against ill effects of drug abuse.Chief Minister said that a special Task Force has been constituted in the Police Department to effectively implement the campaign against the drug peddlers. He said that three State Narcotics Crime Control Units at Shimla, Kangra and Kullu had been set up to deal with drug mafia.Shri Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Police had organized 1023 anti drug campaigns in the State from 2018 to till date to create awareness regarding the menace of drug abuse. He also urged the NGOs, Mahila Mandals and representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions to come forward to eradicate this social evil from the society.Health Minister Shri Vipin Singh Parmar, Industries Minister Shri Bikram Singh Thakur, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Shri B.K. Aggarwal, Deputy Mayor, MC Shimla Shri Rakesh Sharma, Director General of Police Shri S.R. Mardi, ADGP, CID Shri Ashok Tiwari, IG, Shri Himanshu Mishra, DIG Shri Asif Jalal, former DGP Shri R.R. Verma, Deputy Commissioner Shimla Shri Amit Kashyap and other senior officers were present on the occasion among others.