https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

How an IPS Officer Won International Acclaim for India with His Anti-Drug Campaign

An anti-drug campaign named ‘Nijat’ was selected for the prestigious IACP 2022 Award for ‘Leadership in Crime Prevention’ in institutional category. The campaign was launched by 2011-batch IPS officer Santosh Kumar Singh, when he was the SP of Rajnandgaon district in Chhattisgarh. Now, as SP of Korba, he is ensuring the campaign’s success in the district through a zero tolerance policy and mass awareness campaigns.
Indian Masterminds Stories

After a drugs de-addiction drive named ‘Nijaat Abhiyan’ achieved the desired results in Rajnandgaon, it was expanded to other districts of Chhattisgarh, to free the youth from psychotropic substances and help them adopt a healthy lifestyle. The drive, that was initially launched by Rajnandgaon Police under the leadership of the then SP, Mr. Santosh Singh, IPS, is now successfully running in several districts of the state.

Because of its success rate, the Nijat initiative was selected for the prestigious IACP 2022 Award for ‘Leadership in Crime Prevention’ in institutional category. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is the world’s largest and most influential professional association of police leaders, comprising police officers from 165 countries around the world. Earlier, Nijat was also recognised by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), an organization of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

Indian Masterminds spoke to the initiator of the Nijat campaign, 2011-batch IPS officer Santosh Singh, who is now the SP of Korba district in Chhattisgarh, to get more details.

2011-batch IPS officer Santosh Singh

THREE-POINT ACTIVITIES

On the instruction of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and under the guidance of DGP Ashok Juneja, Chhattisgarh Police started taking strict action against drugs peddlers and bootleggers. Along with that, intensive public awareness and rehabilitation of addicts were also taken up under the Nijaat Abhiyan.

When Nijat was launched in Rajnandgaon under the leadership of the then SP, Santosh Singh, it mainly included three points. They were – public awareness, police action, and help in counselling and rehabilitation of drug addicts. The campaign was promoted by the police through banner posters, hoardings and wall-paintings in villages; short movies with rap songs; and social media. Social organizations and people’s representatives were also roped in to help out.

Mr. Santosh Singh said, “The family and society are constantly affected by intoxication. People have been made aware of the side effects through the awareness programmes. In four months, 1154 cases under the Excise Act were registered in Rajnandgaon district, around 6362 litres of liquor worth Rs. 91,40,548 were seized, and 1200 accused arrested. The campaign made an effective contribution to the fight against drug addiction, which is a crime as well as a social evil.”

COUNSELLING OF ADDICTS

Counselling of drug addicts were started in all police stations and outposts. Drug addicts were identified and called to police stations for counselling sessions, where the side effects of intoxication were explained to them. They were clearly told that it would not only affect their body, but also create financial crisis in their life and lead to criminal activities.

“The campaign had wide impact and people started coming to the police.  Those who were not able to quit were guided by professional counsellors. In some cases, they were sent to drug de-addiction centre or hospital for medical treatment,” Mr. Singh said.

SUCCESS IN KORBA

With its zero-tolerance policy and mass-awareness programmes, the Nijat Abhiyan has started yielding fruitful results in Korba district as well, where Mr. Santosh Singh is currently posted as SP. The Korba Police has been successful in effectively stopping the smuggling of narcotics and illicit liquor. While counselling of the addicts in police stations are going on, separate counselling rooms are also being constructed.

As a result of the public awareness programmes, people are getting inspired to shun all forms of addiction and lead a healthy life. That the programme is a success can be gauged from the huge attendance of people in the meetings, rallies and street plays ,organised under the mass awareness campaign, in towns and remote villages of the district.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Shailendra Nath Gupta IDES
Senior IDES Officer Shailendra Nath Gupta Assumes Charge as Director General of Defence Estates - Know About Him
Northern-Coalfields-Limited-NCL-Resized
Ashutosh Dwivedi Recommended as Next Director (Technical) of Northern Coalfields Limited - Know About Him
Manish Rastogi IAS
IAS Officer Manish Rastogi Promoted to Additional Chief Secretary in Madhya Pradesh - Know More About Him
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services (IAS)
2 Suspended IAS Officers Among 6 Accused in Chhattisgarh Coal Levy Case, Granted Interim Bail By SC - Know the Case
IPS Officer Indian Police Services
3 Senior IPS Officers, Including Ashutosh Pandey, Promoted as DGs in Uttar Pradesh Police Reshuffle - Know More
SAIL resized
SAIL Bags 'Star Performer' Award from EEPC for Export Excellence During Pandemic Years - Check Here To Know More
NFL _ National Fertilizers Limited
National Fertilizers Ltd Faces Rs. 94.84 Crore Tax Demand Over GST Refunds
Screenshot 2025-05-31 204103
PM Modi Launches Major Thermal Power Projects in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh - Check All Details
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
Modernising Governance: A Digital Transformation in Gangtok
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Abhishek Singh's SECRET: Vipassana, Anthropology & Smart Answer Writing | Video Interview 
Madhav Agarwal UPSC
From Gwalior to the Top 20: What Drove Finance Pro Madhav Agarwal to Crack UPSC CSE 2024 with AIR 16? | Exclusive
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
ANUBHAV SINGH UPSC IFS 2024
9 Years, 8 Attempts, 7 Failures: How Anubhav Singh Cracked UPSC IFS 2024 with AIR 3 Against All Odds | Exclusive
Anubhav Singh’s inspiring journey to UPSC IFS Rank 3 showcases relentless perseverance, strategic preparation,...
Jogender Sihag
“I Cleared UPSC, But My Grandfather isn’t Here to Hear it,” Jogender Sihag, AIR 521, UPSC CSE 2024
"Life is short; make the most of it, whether in civil service or any other field. Just have a clear vision...
WhatsApp Image 2025-05-28 at 18.56
Didn’t Clear UPSC But Found Something Greater: A Story That Will Change How You See Success
She left a top finance job for UPSC, did not clear but built a thriving wellness brand instead. Veda's...
Social Media
parveen kaswan elephant
Elephant Outsmarts Electric Fence! IFS Parveen Kaswan Shares Incredible Video!
In the now-viral 51-second clip, the intelligent giant approaches a wooden pole supporting high-voltage...
UPSC Latest IAS IPS IFS
UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Tomorrow: ICLS Officer Altap Shaikh Shares Last-Minute Motivation for Aspirants
His five-post thread offers encouragement, practical advice, and emotional support - not just for those...
Anupam Sharma IFS
#BoycottTurkey: IFS Officer Anupam Sharma Sparks Nationalist Call to Action
IFS Sharma urged citizens to avoid Turkish agricultural imports
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Shailendra Nath Gupta IDES
Senior IDES Officer Shailendra Nath Gupta Assumes Charge as Director General of Defence Estates - Know About Him
Northern-Coalfields-Limited-NCL-Resized
Ashutosh Dwivedi Recommended as Next Director (Technical) of Northern Coalfields Limited - Know About Him
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Madhav Agarwal UPSC
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT