Need to intensify fight against drugs: Governor

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla yesterday said that there was need to intensify the fight against drugs and de-addiction centres should be set up to wean the youth away from the clutches of narcotics.

Shukla, while addressing mediapersons here, said that the campaign against drugs must be undertaken on a war footing as a public movement to save the younger generation. “There is only one rehabilitation centre at Kullu run by the Red Cross. It is the state government’s responsibility to set up de-addiction centres in all regions. I have learnt that the government is searching for land in Sirmaur district for a de-addiction centre,” he added.

He said that the state government was working against drugs at its own level but he had stepped out of the Raj Bhawan to launch a fight against the menace, taking forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign. During my recent visit to Varanasi, I attended a Central Government programme ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva aur Viksit Bharat’ and as such Himachal should become part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of Drug-Free India," he added.

The Governor said, “I have written letters to all MLAs, as I feel that they should take up the campaign for a drug-free Himachal on priority.” He added that he had started this campaign against drugs in Himachal by involving panchayati raj representatives, mahila mandals, holding public rallies and sports events. Now, all universities and colleges had incorporated in their admission forms a pledge by students that they would not indulge in drugs, he claimed.

He said that Union Minister for Labour Mansukh Mandviya had assured him that he would participate in any event organised to wipe out drugs. Shukla added that almost 63 per cent of the country’s population was youth and 38 per cent of them were below 35 years of age, who should be saved from drugs.

The Governor said that there had been an increase of 340 per cent in the registration of cases under the NDPS Act. In 2012, the number of cases registered under the NDPS Act was about 500 while in 2023, it rose to 2,200.

Himachal Tribune