Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that drug abuse is not merely a law and order challenge but a matter intrinsically linked with society, family, culture and nation-building. While the Government can curb the drug trade through legislation and strict police action, a lasting solution to this social evil is possible only when the entire society unites against it and transforms the fight into a mass movement.
He said that under the Haryana Uday Campaign, a comprehensive public awareness drive would be launched across the State by strengthening Community Policing and public participation to make Haryana drug-free.The Chief Minister was addressing the Samvad with NGOs and Chemist Associations on Nasha Mukt Haryana under the Haryana Uday Campaign at Panchkula on Saturday.
He also administered the Anti-Drug Pledge to all those present during the programme. The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, the country is moving forward with the goal of building a Viksit Bharat. He said that this objective can be achieved only when the youth of the country and the State remain free from drugs and channelise their energy towards nation-building.
He said that Nasha Mukt Haryana is not merely a social campaign but also a strong foundation for building a Viksit Haryana and a Viksit Bharat. The State Government is continuously working in this direction and, with the cooperation of every section of society, will transform this campaign into a mass movement, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
Nasha Mukt Haryana is a campaign to secure the future of coming generations
The Chief Minister said that the resolve for Nasha Mukt Haryana is not merely the need of the present but a campaign that will determine the future of the coming generations. Every individual, institution, social organisation, chemist, police officer and citizen contributing to this campaign is playing an important role in building a ‘Surakshit, Swasth aur Sashakt’ Haryana of the future, he said.
The Chief Minister said that today's Samvad is not merely a Government programme but a proclamation of the collective resolve that will shape the future of the coming generations. It is a campaign to build a Haryana where dreams of nation-building shine in the eyes of the youth. Welcoming all NGOs organisations, social workers, members of the chemist community, police officers and aware citizens associated with the campaign, he said that every citizen has a vital role to play in making the State drug-free.
Drug abuse destroys not only an individual but entire families and society
The Chief Minister said that drug abuse is a social evil that leads an individual towards ruin. It destroys not only the body but also self-confidence, families, values and the social fabric, ultimately weakening the nation's collective strength. He said that India is the youngest country in the world and Haryana is among the most energetic States in the country.
The youth of Haryana have brought laurels to the State and the nation in sports, education, science, industry and several other fields. If these very young people fall into the grip of drug addiction, it will not merely be the loss of an individual but a defeat for the entire society, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
He further said that drug abuse does not destroy only one person's life but it also robs a mother of her smile, a father of his support, a sister of her sense of security, a wife of her trust and children of their future. Therefore, the fight against drugs is not merely an issue of law and order but one that concerns humanity, family, culture and nation-building, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
This social evil can be eradicated only through a mass movement
The Chief Minister said that history bears testimony to the fact that whenever society has collectively resolved to fight a social evil, even the impossible has become possible. Mahatma Gandhi transformed the freedom movement into a mass movement, and Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi mobilised crores of people through public participation under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
Likewise, there is now a need to build a widespread mass movement against drug abuse, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.He said that while the Government can enact laws, the police can take action against criminals and the courts can ensure justice, it is society itself that has the responsibility of changing its own mindset.
Appreciating the NGOs from across the State, Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that social service is not merely a responsibility but the highest tradition of public welfare. Wherever the reach of the Government is limited, NGOs reach the last person in society.
When a young person begins to lose hope or falls into the grip of drug addiction, these organisations extend a helping hand and guide him or her towards a new direction.The Chief Minister said that working selflessly for the welfare of society is the hallmark of Indian culture, and the NGOs of the State are carrying forward this noble tradition.
He called upon all social organisations to transform the Nasha Mukt Haryana campaign into a mass movement by reaching every village, every ward and every locality, and by engaging in friendly Samvad with young people in schools, colleges and playgrounds to make them aware of the harmful consequences of drug abuse.
He said that many young people become victims of circumstances; therefore, instead of reprimanding them or distancing ourselves from them, it is essential to provide them with proper guidance and a positive environment.
Chemists are not merely medicine sellers; they are guardians of society's health
The Chief Minister described the role of the representatives of the Chemist Associations present at the programme as extremely important and said that chemists do not merely deal in medicines but also safeguard the health and trust of society. Their counters hold not only medicines but also the trust of the people.
He said that every chemist must exercise the utmost vigilance and responsibility while dispensing medicines that are susceptible to misuse for drug abuse. If any prohibited or sensitive medicine falls into the wrong hands, its adverse consequences are not confined to a single individual but affect the entire family and society.
He expressed confidence that the chemist fraternity of Haryana would discharge its social responsibility with complete dedication and ensure that medicines remain a means of saving lives and never become an instrument of destruction.
Along with taking action against drug peddlers, eliminating the demand for drugs is also the Government's objective
The Chief Minister said that Haryana is known not only as the land of wrestlers but also as the land of saints, the Guru tradition, brave warriors, hardworking farmers and the remarkable achievements of its daughters. The State's glorious identity, he asserted, will never be allowed to be overshadowed by the darkness of drug abuse, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
He said that the Government's objective is not merely to arrest those involved in drug trafficking but also to eliminate the demand for drugs in society. When families become aware, society becomes aware, and young people themselves choose to stay away from drugs, the illegal drug trade will automatically begin to weaken. This, he said, is the greatest strength of Community Policing and will form the very foundation of this campaign's success.
Providing an opportunity, trust and acceptance to persons affected by drug addiction is also society's responsibility
The Chief Minister said that it is not appropriate to brand any person as a drug addict for life. Instead of isolating such individuals from society, they should be given an opportunity to return to a normal life. He said that if a person is given trust, acceptance and a positive environment, transformation is always possible.
He said that love and acceptance possess the power to give a new direction to a person's life even in the most difficult circumstances. Therefore, every section of society must actively participate in the rehabilitation of persons affected by drug addiction and in helping them return to the mainstream.
In the era of Artificial Intelligence, digital technology and start-ups, protecting young people from drugs is the need of the hour
The Chief Minister said that India is advancing rapidly in the new era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital technology, innovation and start-ups. Today, the country's young talent is demonstrating its capabilities across the world, and India's youth are scripting a new chapter of development through innovation and entrepreneurship, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
He said that if a young person turns towards drugs at such a time, he or she not only loses his or her own future, but the nation also loses a potential scientist, sportsperson, entrepreneur, innovator and nation-builder. He said that every young life is invaluable for the State Government.
The dreams of the youth are immense, their potential is limitless, and their goal should be to play an active role in building a Viksit Bharat. Drug abuse can never become the destination of any young person, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
Give children your time, connect them more with the family than with mobile phones
Making a special appeal to parents present at the programme, the Chief Minister said that what children need the most is time, trust and meaningful communication of their families. He urged parents to spend more time with their children, listen to them attentively and make every effort to connect them more closely with the family than with the world of mobile phones.
He said that a family remains secure when parents become friends with their children. Society, too, remains secure when every individual cares not only for his or her own children but also for the children in the neighbourhood. This, he said, is the greatest hallmark of Indian culture and civilization.
The Chief Minister said that Indian culture gives the message of treating the entire world as one family. If the whole world is our family, then every child in our villages, localities and cities is also our own. If society succeeds in saving even a single child from falling into the trap of drug abuse, it will be a collective victory for the entire society, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
Task Forces to be constituted to strengthen public participation against drug abuse, social organisations urged to launch campaigns in every village
The Chief Minister said that the fight against drug abuse is not the responsibility of the Government alone but a collective responsibility of the entire society. With this objective, the State Government has decided to constitute Task Forces at the district and local levels.
These Task Forces will comprise the concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Gram Sarpanch, and representatives of NGOs associated with the anti-drug campaign so as to ensure coordinated action and effective public awareness campaigns at the grassroots level. He appealed to social organisations to launch anti-drug awareness campaigns in every village, every ward and every locality.
He said that the Government's objective is not merely to apprehend those involved in drug trafficking but also to eliminate the demand for drugs. In furtherance of this objective, the properties of persons involved in the illegal drug trade have been attached, and stringent action has also been taken by demolishing their illegally acquired properties using bulldozers, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
The Chief Minister said that today does not merely mark the launch of a campaign but heralds the beginning of a new awakening across society. He called upon all citizens to resolve to stay away from drugs, protect their families from drug abuse, and contribute towards making their villages, localities and cities drug-free.
He also appealed to the people that if they come across any instance of drug trafficking, they should immediately report it to the Police, the NCB Haryana Helpline, or through the MANAS Portal.
Chemist Associations suggest monitoring of the entire supply chain, including online prescriptions
During the Samvad programme, representatives of the Chemist Associations and various NGOs placed several important suggestions before the Chief Minister regarding the prevention of the misuse of narcotic and psychotropic medicines.
The representatives said that effective control over the misuse of such medicines cannot be achieved merely by taking action against chemists. Rather, the entire supply chain of medicines, the online prescription system, and all other possible sources should be subjected to equally effective monitoring and enforcement.
They further stated that there is a pressing need for effective monitoring of medicines being made available through online prescriptions. They suggested that the system should be made more transparent, accountable and technologically robust so that the misuse of narcotic and psychotropic medicines can be effectively curbed, while at the same time ensuring that genuine patients do not face any difficulty in obtaining the medicines required for their treatment.Responding to the suggestions, the Chief Minister said that the Government would accept and effectively implement all suggestions that are practical, useful and in the larger public interest.
Panchkula Mayor, Sh. Shyam Lal Bansal, Hisar Mayor, Sh. Parveen Popli, former Speaker Vidhan Sabha, Sh. Gian Chand Gupta, Special Officer (Community Policing and Outreach) in the Chief Minister’s Office, Sh. Pankaj Nain, Director General, Health Services, Dr. Manish Bansal, Media Secretary to the Chief Minister, Sh. Praveen Attrey and senior officers of the Haryana Police, representatives of NGOs and Chemist Associations from across the State, and a large number of young people were also present on this occasion.