Health Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari said that Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Hemant Soren has taken a pledge to make Jharkhand drug free and we are working day and night to fulfill his resolution. Under this, this drug de-addiction campaign is being run, which has started from June 10 and its grand finale will be done on June 26 at Morhabadi Maidan. Under this, this workshop is also being organized. He said that awareness publicity vehicles are also being dispatched to all the districts to create awareness, which will go to all the districts to make people aware about the ill effects of drug addiction. Dr. Ansari was addressing a workshop organized under the Drug De-addiction Campaign at Project Bhawan on Tuesday. On this occasion, he also released a booklet related to drug abuse prepared in collaboration with the Home Department and Information Public Relations Department, as well as Health Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari and the officials and employees present in the workshop took an oath to make India free from drugs. Dr. Ansari also flagged off the publicity vehicles after the programme.
The aim of the drug de-addiction campaign is to get the youth out of addiction
The Health Minister said that the main objective of the programme is to wean the youth and people out of addiction. This campaign is starting from today. Under the campaign, publicity vehicles will go to all districts, awareness programs will be run in schools and colleges. Action has been taken to prevent poppy cultivation in various districts of Jharkhand especially Ranchi, Khunti. He said that it is very important to curb the misuse of prohibited drugs. Our efforts are going on and we have succeeded in curbing it to a great extent, but our goal is to completely eradicate poppy cultivation. Opium cultivation has been destroyed on a large scale, this is the achievement of the Government. Drug addiction is ruining people socially, mentally and economically.
There is a need to be aware of the ill effects of addiction
Dr. Irfan Ansari said that out of 10,134 medical stores in the state, provision of CCTVs has been made in more than 4,000 stores and the process of installation is going on in the rest. Jharkhand has the highest number of youth in the grip of drugs. We have to get the people of Jharkhand out of the grip of drugs. He told about the ill effects of eating gutka. He said that there is a need to make people aware about the ill effects of drugs.
Our government is working towards strengthening health infrastructure.
Dr. Irfan Ansari said that soon we are going to give the gift of RIMS 2 to Jharkhand. Along with this, 6 new medical colleges and 2 testing labs will also be opened here. So that people here do not have to worry about treatment outside. He said that drug addiction is the root of all diseases, youth are ruining their lives by falling into the grip of drugs at an early age. We have to make them aware. This is not just a 14-day program, but this program should run throughout the year. The media is requested to focus on the awareness campaign and also make people aware.
The role of media is important in making people aware
Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Kumar said that drug abuse has spread throughout the society. The youth have become accustomed to consuming it. It is spreading in the society like cancer, yet we are not able to talk about it openly. We have to tell people about the consequences. Through public awareness, we have to explain to those youth and children and not through sticks. We need to work in this direction right from the high school level. Awareness campaigns are to be conducted among young children and youth. He said that through this workshop, information will be given on how to work to prevent drug addiction. Drug trade is increasing in big cities like Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Palamu, Bokaro etc. Which is not possible only at the police station level, there is a need to work on it at the district and headquarters level. The media also has an important role to play in this so that the faces of such people can be exposed, who are involved in the drug trade. He said that information will be given about the law regarding drugs and under what circumstances drugs will be given to you from the drug shop. At present, there is an action plan to install CCTVs in drug shops. Soon, the department will prepare a portal which will contain information about all regulated drugs. People taking drugs will also be treated. Two important institutions of the state, one in Rinpas and the other in CIP, treat such people. He said that in the coming time, workshops will also be organized at district and block level.
The state government has achieved great success in the destruction of opium cultivation.
Principal Secretary, Home Department, Vandana Dadel said that we are all aware of the problem of drug abuse in Jharkhand. By falling into the influence of intoxication, people start facing problems like financial stress, domestic violence and the like, not only that they also get involved in criminal activities, which creates a challenge for the society and law and order. It is more commonly seen in the youth, we have to talk openly about this. We all need to work together to root out this problem. He said that opium cultivation is mainly done in Khunti, Ranchi, Latehar and other districts of Jharkhand. It is because of our determination that we have achieved such great success. All departments will have to work together in this area. Rallies will be conducted in schools by the Education Department, Sports Department in Sports Training Center and awareness campaign will also be conducted in tourist centers.
Drug dealers will be put in jail.
DGP Anurag Gupta said that like every year, awareness campaign is being conducted this year too. Which is a matter of happiness. When it comes to drugs in Jharkhand, Jharkhand has become a major center for opium. Children in urban areas have been exposed to brown sugar, heroin and other drugs, which is a matter of concern.
He said that we have to focus on supply reduction and demand reduction first, because if there is a shortage in supply, then demand can be reduced. There is a need to stop the supply of ganja and other narcotics from the states adjoining Jharkhand. We have done the work of destroying the unprecedented poppy cultivation in Jharkhand. Now the time has come to punish the opium cultivators severely, so that people stop cultivating them. A message should go from the government that whoever cultivates opium, the trader of brown sugar and hemp will be put in jail.
Awareness campaign will be run in schools and colleges
Principal Secretary Higher Education Rahul Purwar said that there is a need to completely stop the drug trade around schools and colleges. For the last 2-3 years, the Home Department has been organizing events against drug addiction. Its positive impact is visible. We can stop this supply chain through access, technology and behavioural change. There is a need to study this behavior pattern as to why children become addicted to it. In this regard, we need to run an education program. The drug trade has to be stopped from the reach of children. There is a need to work in this direction on how to break the supply chain and prevent the access of drugs to children. For this, there is a need to work on it with the participation of all departments and everyone.
All departments will have to work together to prevent the reach of drug trade to children.
Principal Secretary Urban Development Sunil Kumar said that many children deviate due to mental stress and social environment and become addicted to drugs. We need to work on all its dimensions by coordinating with all departments. The police department does its job. In today’s workshop, we are thinking about how to make people aware, as well as all the departments and people working in this field need to be made aware and they need to be told that your participation is very important for its prevention. This workshop has been organized for this purpose.
Breaking the supply chain of drugs
Crime Research Department, Inspector General of Police, Asim Vikrant Minz told through PPT that in which district of Jharkhand the maximum youth use drugs in connection with drug abuse. In this, the maximum number of youth have been involved in drug addiction in Ranchi, Khunti, Chaibasa, Chatra, Hazaribagh, Latehar and Palamu. Through a PPT presentation, he gave information about criminal cases and drug abuse cases registered in various districts of Jharkhand. Along with opium, cases of hemp brown sugar are also serious. The police have destroyed poppy cultivation by conducting campaigns from time to time. Criminals have been arrested with brown sugar. He outlined the outline of the supply of narcotics in Jharkhand and the places from where it is supplied. He told how many people who are involved in the drug trade have been arrested so far. Opium is the most important drug, followed by hemp, brown sugar, and other drugs. Khunti is at the forefront of opium production. Then, there are other districts. He said that the destruction of poppy cultivation is also being done continuously by the administration and we have destroyed many acres of poppy cultivation. Illegal poppy cultivation has been destroyed on 27015.035 acres of land in the entire state. At the same time, there is a provision to confiscate the property of drug traffickers and the administration has confiscated the property of many people. He gave information about the Anti Narcotics Task Force. He has decided to conduct an awareness campaign in all the districts with the cooperation of all departments, NGOs and local public representatives.
Centre appreciates Jharkhand for doing a better job in opium destruction
NCB Ranchi Zonal Shri Abhishek Anand said that the history of drugs is thousands of years old. In today’s context, its misuse is increasing. All the countries of the world have decided to make stringent laws in view of its destructiveness. The Jharkhand government has done a better job in the matter of opium destruction. The Centre has also appreciated the efforts of Jharkhand. Jharkhand alone accounts for 20 per cent of the total drug destruction in India. Our aim is to create awareness. So that there is a feeling of hatred towards drugs among the people.
In Rinpas, drug addicts are treated and helped to get rid of addiction.
Dr. Sajal Ashish Nag, Assistant Professor, Rinpas, explained how and why youth start drugs. Due to the environment and wrong company, due to stress, they demand more money than necessary, so that they can take intoxicating items. Due to easy availability and lack of awareness about its harm, they also become addicted to drugs. He said that due to taking drugs, there is a change in his behavior. There is no interest in studies and suicidal tendencies come in the future. He also gave information about the measures to avoid drug addiction. He said that in Rinpas, drug addicts are treated and help in getting rid of addiction. l
Tourism Secretary Manoj Kumar, Social Welfare Department Manoj Kumar, Secretary School Education Umashankar and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
