Under the aegis of Deputy Commissioner Barnala, the Drug Abuse and Prevention Officer (DAPO) programme is getting massive response from village Panchayats in the district as on Monday seven drug addicts were registered for treatment during an awareness function at village Pakhon Kalan. Deputy Commissioner Mr. Dharam Pal Gupta informed that district administration has organized a function at Pakhon Kalan, 25 kms from here under DAPO and motivated people to shun the drug menace from their village with the help of treatment being offered free of cost by Punjab Government.Dharam Pal Gupta said that during the awareness function, village panchayat and other reputed personalities assured that they will fully co-operate with administrative and police officials to tackle with drug menace.
He added that they have also inspired seven drug addicts to get them registered for free treatment under DAPO programme. It is learnt that all the seven were using excess number of medical pills as drugs.DC informed that the drug addicts will be assisted at every step of de-addiction and soon they will end the drug menace from the villages of the district with the help of residents and panchayats. He added that Punjab Government has been committed to treat all drug addicts and results have started pouring in.Meanwhile, Additional DC Mr. Sandeep Kumar said that the administration will soon install suggestion and complaint box at villages to encourage the residents to come up with information about drugs without revealing their identity. DSP Varinderjit Singh Thind also assured the villagers that the police will not harass any drug addict, if the addict voluntarily get himself register for treatment.