Amritsar | To further strengthen and make the ongoing anti-drug campaign more effective at the grassroots level, Public Works Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO today held a district-level review meeting with Deputy Commissioner Amritsar S. Dalwinderjit Singh, DCP S. Jaskaranjit Singh Teja, SSP Rural S. Kanwalpreet Singh Chahal, police officials and volunteers of the Nasha Mukti Morcha at the Seminar Hall of Government Medical College, Amritsar.
During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on activities being undertaken against drugs at the grassroots level, challenges being faced in different areas, complaints and suggestions received, and further strengthening coordination among the administration, police and Nasha Mukti Morcha for prevention of drug abuse. The meeting primarily focused on receiving grassroots feedback, identifying issues, ensuring prompt action for their resolution and chalking out clear, actionable points.
Addressing the meeting, Public Works Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO said that creating a drug-free society is a top priority of the Punjab Government and the ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign would be further intensified to make it more effective and successful. He said that volunteers of the Nasha Mukti Morcha are working at the grassroots level in coordination with Village Defence Committees and Ward Defence Committees, and necessary action would be ensured on the basis of the feedback received from them.
S. ETO said that the Punjab Government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against drugs and no drug trafficker would be spared. He said that while strict action would be taken against those involved in the drug trade, equal emphasis was being laid on helping young people trapped in drug addiction to come out of this vicious cycle.
The Minister directed the administrative officials to motivate young people suffering from drug addiction and facilitate their treatment at government de-addiction centres. He said that it was the responsibility of the government not only to ensure proper treatment of such youth but also to help them become self-reliant and bring them back into the mainstream of society.
During the meeting, emphasis was laid on ensuring necessary support and coordination between the administration and police to further strengthen the anti-drug campaign. Discussions were also held on effectively conveying complaints and suggestions received at the village and ward levels to the concerned departments and ensuring appropriate action for their resolution.
Deputy Commissioner S. Dalwinderjit Singh and Police Commissioner S. Harmanbir Singh Gill stressed the need for all concerned departments, Village and Ward Defence Committees, coordinators and representatives of the Nasha Mukti Morcha to work in close coordination to make the anti-drug campaign more effective. They said that necessary action would be further expedited on the basis of feedback received from the grassroots level.
On the occasion, Nasha Mukti Morcha Majha Zone In-charge S. Dikshit Dhawan said that volunteers of the Nasha Mukti Morcha are working day and night at the grassroots level to prevent drug abuse. He said that the volunteers are maintaining regular contact with Village and Ward Defence Committees and creating awareness among people about the harmful effects of drugs. He also apprised the meeting in detail about various initiatives being undertaken by the Nasha Mukti Morcha to prevent drug abuse and motivate people to stay away from drugs.
The meeting also discussed further steps to strengthen the anti-drug campaign at the grassroots level, ensure prompt action on feedback received, and make coordination among the administration, police and Nasha Mukti Morcha more effective.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Smt. Palvi Mishra, DCP S. Jaskaranjit Singh Teja, SDM Amritsar-1 Smt. Alka Kalia, SDM Amritsar-2 S. Gurmandar Singh, SDM Ajnala Charumita, SDM Manitha Rajnish Arora, all coordinators of the ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign and other concerned officials were also present at the meeting.
