IEP Chandigarh, April 6
Haryana Chief Secretary, Mr. Sanjeev Kaushal said that the state Government has been taking effective measures to break the backbone of drug peddlers.Following the directions of the Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal, the property of the drug peddlers is being attached. So far, assets worth Rs. 37.29 crore of 41 accused drug peddlers have been attached. Besides this, the properties of 77 persons involved in crimes under NDPS Act have also been demolished. While presiding over a meeting of Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau here today, the Chief Secretary, Mr. Kaushal said that primarily, it is necessary to identify drug addicts to curb drug peddling in the state so as to bring drug addicts back into mainstream society. Sh. Kaushal said that the supply and use of prescription medicines should also be monitored in the state. He directed the officials of the health department to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) related to the drug overdose deaths occurred within a month and share it with the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau. Further, drug overdose death cases should also be monitored at forensic science laboratories. The Chief Secretary said that at present 90 drug de-addiction centers are running in the state. Of this, 21 are run by government and other private organizations and NGOs. Special emphasis should be given on the functioning of drug de-addiction centers. He directed the officers to regularly visit the drug de-addiction centers set up in the districts. Apart from this, the Sub Divisional Magistrates must also visit and inspect drug de-addiction centers once every month. He said that apart from regular visits, the officers concerned should also conduct surprise inspections. He further directed the Deputy Commissioner to hold a monthly meeting of the District Level Committee and review the situation of drug abuse. The decisions of these meetings should be updated on the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau portal. The Chief Secretary said that for capacity building in Primary Health Center and Community Health Center, the process of appointment of clinical psychiatrist and other manpower should be expedited. De-addiction drugs should also be included in the essential medicines.Mr. Kaushal said that the Dhakad programme being run to spread drug abuse awareness among youth should also be conducted on a large scale. Dhadak teams should also be constituted in educational institutions, which will make students aware of the fatal consequences of drug abuse. In the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary of Home Department Mr. TVSN Prasad said that the Advisory Board will be constituted soon for the effective use and implementation of the PIT- NDPS Act. As many as 21 workshops were also organized for imparting training regarding Dhakad program, Hawk software, Prayas app and Saathi app. Under the Dhakad initiative, awareness programs were also conducted at the school, college and university levels. In the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. G. Anupama, Principal Secretary, Higher Education, Mr. Mr. Vijayendra Kumar, Director General of Police Mr. PK Agarwal, Director General Prisons, Mr. Mohammad Akil, ADGP Crime , Panchkula, Mr. OP Singh, ADGP CID, Mr. Alok Mittal, IGP, Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau, Mr. Amitabh Singh Dhillon, Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Mr. Ashok Meena and other senior officers were also present.
