Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that a Joint Task Force will be constituted in both rural and urban areas across the state to prevent drug abuse. These task forces will undertake special drives to curb the sale of narcotics and apprehend those involved in the illegal drug trade. He said the task forces would be empowered to such an extent that drug traffickers would develop a strong fear of enforcement and abandon such activities altogether.
The Chief Minister was presiding over a review meeting of the Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, and Antyodaya (SEWA) Department regarding its five-year roadmap and action plan under Haryana Vision-2047. He also reviewed the progress of Chief Minister’s announcements, budget announcements, and commitments made in the Sankalp Patra relating to the department, and issued necessary directions to the officers concerned.
He also administered a pledge to those present to support efforts against drug abuse and contribute towards making families, society, and the nation drug-free. Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that breaking the drug distribution network is essential to completely eliminate drug abuse from the state.
He directed that under the leadership of the SEWA Department, Joint Task Forces be formed at the rural level comprising Sarpanches, Ward Members, BDOs, SHOs, and representatives of NGOs working in the area, while in urban areas the task force should include Municipal Secretaries, Ward Councillors, HHOs, and NGO representatives.
These task forces will identify locations where drugs are being sold and ensure strict action against drug peddlers. The Chief Minister said that more de-addiction and rehabilitation centres would be established across the state for drug-affected individuals.
Persons who complete treatment and are discharged from de-addiction centres should be monitored closely for three months. A dedicated plan should also be prepared to provide them with skill training and employment opportunities.
He said that by building supportive relationships with recovering addicts and reintegrating them into the mainstream of society, an ideal society can be created. Additional Chief Secretary, SEWA Department, Smt. G. Anupama informed that the state currently has 119 de-addiction centres, 29 rehabilitation centres, and two mental health hospitals.
A rehabilitation centre spread over six acres will be established in Kurukshetra on a PPP mode. She further informed that the department has developed a Drug Addict Monitoring System to ensure proper monitoring of individuals after rehabilitation and to prevent relapse into substance abuse.
She also stated that SEWA Department is providing pensions and other financial assistance to eligible individuals and families through 35 different welfare schemes. The Chief Minister directed that provisions be made for beneficiaries of pension and other welfare schemes to update their personal and family details so that no eligible person is deprived of benefits.
Appropriate modules should be developed to enable citizens to apply for corrections in their records. Verification of such requests should be undertaken under the chairmanship of the Additional Deputy Commissioner in each district.
He expressed satisfaction over the inclusion of 63,000 additional beneficiaries under pension schemes during the last three months. Reviewing facilities being provided to children with disabilities, the Chief Minister said that institutions working for such children in the state should be registered and a policy should be framed to provide grants to organisations doing commendable work.
He further directed that all persons with disabilities should receive the benefits of reservation prescribed in government jobs. He also reviewed the functioning of disability facilitation centres and directed that teachers of children with special needs be provided specialised training courses as required.
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini directed that a Senior Citizen Club be established in every district to make life easier for elderly citizens. These clubs should provide facilities such as seating, recreation, games, as well as access to psychologists and physiotherapists.
He also directed that caregivers be trained to assist senior citizens. In the first phase, 1,000 caregivers will be trained through courses conducted at Shri Vishwakarma Skill University and other private universities.
He further directed that all NGOs working for the welfare of senior citizens be registered so that organisations doing exemplary work can be encouraged and supported. Reviewing the distribution of scholarships for students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, and EWS categories, the Chief Minister said that the application and verification processes have now been made online, enabling eligible students to receive scholarships promptly.
He directed officials to prioritise the disbursement of scholarship amounts pending from previous years. He further directed that hostels be established in all districts to ensure that students coming from remote areas to pursue education in cities do not face difficulties related to accommodation and food, thereby preventing disruption to their studies.
Reviewing the Lado Lakshmi Yojana, the Chief Minister clarified that women availing benefits under the scheme would not lose eligibility for pensions or any other existing welfare benefits. Therefore, all eligible women should register under the scheme and avail its benefits.
He said there is no shortage of funds for the scheme. Its budget, which stood at Rs. 5,000 crore last year, has been increased to Rs. 6,500 crore in the current budget. Sh. Nayab Singh Saini also reviewed the progress of Chief Minister’s announcements regarding the establishment of a separate 100-bed de-addiction centre at Sant Sarsai Nath Medical College in Sirsa, expansion of bed capacity at the Dabwali de-addiction centre from 10 to 30 beds, establishment of a 20-bed de-addiction centre in Ellenabad, and construction of the Samriddh Seva Ashram at Samspur.
In addition to the Lado Lakshmi Yojana, the Chief Minister also reviewed various commitments including linking pension increases to inflation, formation of a Welfare Board for Backward Classes, providing credit guarantees to entrepreneurs from Backward Classes, the Mukhyamantri Vivah Shagun Yojana, enhancement of family income limits under scholarship schemes, and other commitments. He issued necessary directions regarding their implementation.
Those present on the occasion included Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sh. Arun Kumar Gupta, Deputy Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sh. Ajay Kumar, Director of Department of Future Dr. Aditya Dahiya, OSD to the Chief Minister and Director General of the Swarna Jayanti Haryana Institute for Fiscal Management Dr. Raj Nehru, along with other senior officers.