Chandigarh, March 18 – Haryana Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sh. Mahipal Dhanda said to ensure that the youth of the state do not fall into the trap of drugs and to crack down on drug smugglers, an authority called ‘Sankalp’ will be formed by the state government. It is the top priority and resolution of the government to make Haryana drug free. The state government is working on a three-pronged strategy to deal with the challenge of drug addiction. First, strict legal action is being taken against drug smugglers, second, extensive awareness campaigns are being run to inform the society, especially the youth, about the ill-effects of drugs and third, adequate arrangements are being made for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts.
He said that keeping in view the commitment of the government, continuous efforts are being made by all the concerned departments like Police, Health, Social Justice and Empowerment (SEWA) and Public Relations etc. for the success of the de-addiction campaign.
Sh. Mahipal Dhanda was responding to the attention motion raised by some members of the House during the budget session of the Haryana Legislative Assembly today regarding the increasing influence of synthetic drugs in Haryana and the growing threat from drugs.
Sh. Mahipal Dhanda said that serious efforts are being made by the Police Department to dismantle the network of big drug smugglers. Between 2020 and 2024, 16781 cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 (NDPS Act) and a total of 25446 accused were arrested and sent to jail, out of which 1767 cases were of commercial quantity, in which 3714 accused were arrested. Illegal property worth Rs 52.79 crore of 117 big smugglers was seized. He informed that under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 (PIT-NDPS Act 1988), a total of 65 habitual smugglers have been taken into preventive custody so far, and apart from this, 6 other cases are under consideration of the government. 111 illegal constructions of 100 big smugglers have been demolished. During this period, 1325 arrests were made in 969 cases of illegal sale of banned medicines and licences of 100 chemists were cancelled. This year too, the police is after the drug smugglers with new resolve and energy.
He informed that 567 new cases were registered under the NDPS Act in January and February 2025 in which 888 smugglers were arrested. The government is also taking strict action against synthetic drugs. Between 2020 and 2024, action has been against the illegal supply of LSD, meth, amphetamine, methadone and MDMA. With the help of central agencies, the drug supply chain is being closely monitored. Police officers and employees are being given special training for investigation of drug related cases.
He said that to prevent interstate drug smuggling in the northern regions of India and to ensure mutual coordination among the states, an Inter-State Drug Secretariat (ISDS) has been established in the year 2018, which is headquartered in Panchkula. It keeps an eye on drug smugglers by coordinating with various states of North India. Coordination with Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Chandigarh has been further strengthened, so that strict monitoring can be done on the state borders.
Special surveillance is being kept at interstate border posts to prevent smuggling of drugs in the state. Vehicles and suspicious persons are being searched with the help of trained narco dogs. This has helped in curbing drug smuggling.
He said that the government is taking effective steps towards punishing the culprits in drug cases. In 2023, the conviction rate in commercial quantity cases was 53.81%, which increased to 71.22% in 2024 and the conviction rate in intermediate quantity cases has increased from 49.48% to 59.43%. Cases of commercial quantity of narcotics are included in ‘identified crimes’ so that their timely hearing can be ensured.
He told that the state government is running a comprehensive awareness campaign against illicit drugs. 2572 awareness programs were organized in 2024, in which 16.7 lakh people participated. During the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Pakhwada’ of the Government of India from 12 to 26 June, 2024, 12.3 lakh people of Haryana joined the awareness program directly and 5.6 lakh people through social media and 67748 persons have taken e-pledge of not taking drugs. Under the Drug Free Haryana campaign, 3406 out of 7197 villages and 809 out of 2095 wards in Haryana were declared drug free. There is no drug seller currently active here. Those who are addicted to drugs have been motivated to give up their addiction through treatment.
He said that under the ‘Sports for Youth Campaign’, children are being made aware about the ill-effects of drug abuse by running awareness campaigns in villages, schools and other educational institutions. Through the ‘Namak Lota Abhiyan’, small drug sellers are being motivated to come out of this illegal business through social pressure. Through drama activities, college and university students are being motivated to avoid drugs and gang activities and face the challenges of life. Through the Educational Escape Room ‘Chakravyuh’ established in Police DAV Public School, Ambala, school children are being taught to stay away from drugs and gang activities through group activities. The government is planning to take this concept to other schools.
He said that the social media based ‘Nasha Mukt Jeevan’ bucket challenge has received more than 35 lakh views so far. Famous singers, actors and social media influencers are actively participating in it. Similarly, in the year 2025 also, it is proposed to run a “Drug Free Haryana Fortnightly Campaign” by the government.
Sh. Dhanda said that the number of de-addiction centers has been increased from 98 in 2021-22 to 130 in 2024-25.
He said that a meeting of civil officers and police officers was held in the month of January under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, in which guidelines were given for effective elimination of drug addiction. The Chief Minister directed the officers to make a plan to give appropriate reward to the person giving effective information about drug smuggling on the Government of India’s drug helpline number 1033, ‘Manas’ portal and Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau’s helpline number 90508-91508 while keeping his identity secret so that people come forward to give information against drug smugglers.
The Chief Minister directed to make a plan to reward the Panchayats doing remarkable work in the direction of de-addiction.
Sh. Dhanda said that he assures the Hon’ble Members that the state government is taking all possible steps to solve the problem of drug addiction. We are committed to its total eradication and to provide relief to the common people from this problem, he said.
