The drug menace in various cities and states, no doubt aggravated by the rising consumption of intoxicants among the younger people, has become a major concern for the country. Working on the guidelines of a government scheme initiated to stop this, Karnal district in Haryana is taking various proactive steps to become a drug-free district. The initiatives are being taken under the guidance of IAS officer Nishant Yadav. He is presently serving as the District Magistrate of Karnal.
On 15 August 2020, the Government of India rolled out the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan’ or a ‘Drugs-Free India Campaign’ across 272 drug-affected districts in the country. One hundred districts out of the 272 are recognized by the government where good work has started. Karnal is named among these 100 districts and is also leading the charge in the state.
DRUG DE-ADDICTION CENTRES
Due to the Covid pandemic, barely any activity was seen under the Drug-Free India campaign. To ramp up, the measures, the government has extended the end date till the year 2022. Keeping in mind many districts have now started taking serious steps towards drug abuse and illicit trafficking in their areas.
Mr. Nishant Yadav while speaking with Indian Masterminds, said “We have started a drug de-addiction camp in the government hospital and a medical college in the district. Similarly, we have also motivated private hospitals to start these camps.”
In addition to the civil hospital, drug de-addiction centers are running in Amrit Dhara, Golden Future, Assandh and Dard. Up to 10 beds are been made available in these centres. Mr. Yadav, in a meeting, instructed the representatives, who came from various hospitals, to provide best facilities to the people under treatment.
AWARENESS IN INSTITUTES
In Karnal, sale of narcotic substances has been banned within a radius of 100 meters of the educational institutes. Mr. Yadav said, “Section 144 has been imposed and if anyone is found selling tobacco or any related product, strict action will be taken. Similarly, a fine will be charged on a person found smoking in government offices. A challan of Rs. 200 will be fined against anyone found guilty.”
“Apart from this”, he added “a seminar of principals of schools and colleges will be convened. We have a certain population of young school-going children who are using intoxicants. We are identifying such students with the help of the principals. Soon they will be sent to the de-addiction centres and with the intervention in an early age, they will be completely drug-free.”
Drug control cells are set up in all middle, high and senior secondary schools where a teacher and a student, who has been made the captain, are being made in charge. Mr. Yadav said, “This will help in the better identification of students with addiction.”
OTHER STEPS
The district administration has also sought a list of medicines from the health department which are being used as a substitute for an intoxicant. The Deputy Commissioner has instructed the Drug Control Officer to immediately stop over-the-counter sale of such medicines, with a mandate that these should be only sold on doctor’s prescriptions.
Apart from this, the Karnal administration is in the process of selecting volunteers who can take follow-up actions of the patients after their treatment.
