Himachal Pradesh News
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu : ₹20 Crore Released for De-Addiction Centre, CM Leads Anti-Chitta Walkathon in Bilaspur
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu : ₹20 Crore Released for De-Addiction Centre, CM Leads Anti-Chitta Walkathon in Bilaspur
The Himachal Pradesh government has released over ₹20 crore for the development of a de-addiction and rehabilitation centre at Kotla Barog in Sirmour district to support people suffering from drug addiction. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced this while addressing a gathering during an Anti-Chitta Walkathon at Luhanu Ground in Bilaspur on Friday.
The Chief Minister led the anti-drug awareness walkathon, during which participants raised strong and impactful slogans against drug abuse. The walkathon commenced from the Government Senior Secondary School for Boys and concluded at Luhanu Ground. At the school premises, Sukhu administered an oath, with participants pledging to collectively eliminate “chitta” and other narcotic substances from Himachal Pradesh.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister described chitta as a “slow poison” that is destroying the future of the youth and tearing families apart. He said the state government had launched a mass anti-drug movement from Shimla on November 15, followed by similar campaigns in Dharamsala and Hamirpur, and added that the Bilaspur walkathon marked another major milestone in turning the initiative into a people’s movement.
Calling upon all sections of society—especially the youth—to actively join the fight against drug abuse, Sukhu said meaningful social change has always been driven by young people. He expressed confidence that the youth of Himachal Pradesh would stand firmly with the government to make the state drug-free.
The Chief Minister announced that the government would soon launch an “Anti-Chitta Volunteer Scheme”, under which college and university students, NCC and NSS cadets, members of youth clubs and socially conscious citizens would be trained as frontline volunteers in the campaign.
Detailing enforcement measures, Sukhu said that during a statewide naka campaign from November 17 to 19, a total of 208 checkpoints were set up and nearly 28,000 vehicles were checked, resulting in several NDPS cases and 33 arrests. On November 22, simultaneous search operations at 124 locations led to the registration of nine NDPS cases and nine arrests. He added that a special drive on December 25 around educational institutions resulted in 12 cases being registered and 385 challans being issued.
The Chief Minister said inspections of pharmaceutical manufacturing units were also carried out to curb the illegal production and distribution of psychotropic drugs. Community-based strategies were strengthened through meetings held in 234 drug-affected panchayats to enhance local intelligence, awareness and prevention efforts.
Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani, former minister Ram Lal Thakur, former MLAs Tilak Raj and Bambar Thakur, State Drug Abuse Prevention Board co-convenor Sanjay Bhardwaj, Director General of Police Ashok Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar and Superintendent of Police Sandeep Dhawal were among those present at the event.
