Punjab Special Task Force (STF) in coordination with master trainers today conducted training programs for ground level trainers (GLTs) at various sub divisions in the state to create awareness about drug abuse under the Drug Abuse Prevention Officer (DAPO) programme.Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of STF said the master trainers have been allocated to all sub-divisions where the concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrates in coordination with the concerned police officers and other members of sub-divisional mission teams (SDMTs) have conducted training of approximately 3,000 GLTs who have been further tasked to train the registered DAPOs directly. He added that approximately 4.5 lakh DAPOs had already been registered under the program launched on 23rd March at Khatkar Kalan, S.B.S. Nagar district by Chief Minister Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh.Giving more details he added that the apex body, Punjab Narcotics Prevention Campaign Committee, had already been constituted under the chairmanship of Chief Principal Secretary to CM Punjab Mr Suresh Kumar to monitor the implementation of this programme at state level. "Under the comprehensive programme the DAPOs would spread awareness against drug abuse and identify drug abuse victims.
Besides they would assist and facilitate drug abuse victims to avail treatment for drug abuse at the nearest de-addiction centres", he said.The spokesperson further informed that various district mission teams and sub-division mission teams have been constituted for monitoring and implementation of this massive program at the district and sub-division level respectively. Various government departments such as police, health, education, revenue, youth welfare & sports, local bodies, etc. have been taken on board in these teams for a comprehensive action against drug abuse, he informed.He added that the STF in coordination with Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration Chandigarh had organised a 2-days training programme for 200 master trainers where they were given training and concepts were clarified to them. During the training, special interactions were organized with ex-drug abuse victims and their families in the presence of various psychologists and sociologists of Punjabi University, Patiala and eminent psychiatrists working in this field.