Niranjan Sahu of Kochiagiri under Takhatpur police station (Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh) used to sell liquor. He was a drug addict as well. Now he is running a sugarcane juice shop after renouncing alcohol. There are many like him who have quit alcoholism or drugs and are leading a normal life. All thanks to the help of counselling by district administration under Nijaat Abhiyan. Brain child of Superintendent of Police Mr. Santosh Singh, the campaign is going on in the whole district under the direction of IG Badri Meena. The Bilaspur Police is conducting a drive against drugs, narcotics and illegal drugs, which includes strict action, extensive public awareness programs and sustained help for drug addicts.
In the last five months, 4804 liters of illegal liquor, 640 kg of ganja, 15 grams of charas, 10 thousand injections, 879 grams of syrup, 953 bonfixes, 5 grams of MAMD and other intoxicants were seized causing stir among the bunch. It has resulted in 12 percent reduction in total IPC offenses compared to the same period of previous years. There has been decrease of 12% in assault, 66% in attempted murder, 21% in murder, 74% in stabbing, 46% in molestation and 21% in theft. The rate of road accidents has also decreased significantly compared to earlier, as per the district police data.
FOURTH DISTRICT
This is not the first time Nijaat has been launched in a district. IPS officer Mr. Santosh Singh has conducted this successfully in his previous posting districts- Koria, Rajnandgaon and Korba. This campaign was honoured with the IACP Award in the Crime Prevention Strategy category by the prestigious IACP organization of America.
It was also included among the top thirty smart policing works in the country by BPRND, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Speaking to Indian Masterminds the officer said, “We have tried to modify the campaign as per the needs. Since, it is already been going on in four other district so the success rate is high.”
INTERNATIONAL HELP
This time, UNICEF and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), an international organization working for children, are also helping in the campaign along with various organizations and all sections of the district.
The officer also says that generally the police work is about action, seizing drugs or arresting the peddlers. However, after he realised that drugs and alcohol has become a social evil, he knew a holistic approach was needed to curb them. To make the awareness campaign against drugs a success, Mr. Singh and his team left not stone unturned. From pamphlets to street plays, Nijaat rally, Nijaat sports event, they are doing it all.
A total of 1906 awareness programs were conducted in schools, colleges and public places with the help of people under public awareness against addiction. “On one side, we are focusing on reinforcement whereas on the other side, we are creating awareness and providing counselling. This two-way approach is really helping”, he told Indian Masterminds.
DRUGS COUNSELLING
The major part of this campaign involves counselling. More than 215 people have been saved from addiction through this campaign. By curbing the drug trade, hundreds of people who were not addicted to drugs, but amateurs, have been saved from the dangerous addiction of drugs. Like Niranjan Sahu there many more who are saved from this life-threatening addiction. Every police station has made a list of drug and alcohol addicts. They are approaching them with counselling offer.
Initially the police focussed on providing counselling to the willing ones only and those whose family are volunteering for full support. The department has tied up with Art of Living, Brahmakumari and NGOs in the area for help in counselling and medical needs. Around five people have also been admitted to a de-addiction centre.
FAMILIES COMING FORWARD
Mr. Singh says, “In some cases, family member mostly wives are coming to seek counselling for their husbands. Addiction usually destroys home and females are the most affected ones. It has just been five months, so we are sticking to help the willing ones but eventually we will identify more and enroll all in our program.”
The officer also said that depending upon the need, the addict are given 10-15 sittings with their counsellor. The department is also helping in getting them involved in skill development or livelihood programs. However, there is always a chance of relapse. Hence, police station officers and constables are told to keep an eye on all those who are enrolled in the counselling program, and report their progress.
Mr. Singh believes that lots of families have been benefitted and marriages were saved due to Nijaat and it is worth celebrating the success. He now looks forward to a 100% drug-free Bilaspur.
