The Chief Secretary said that Haryana has 105 de-addiction centres, 21 counseling-cum-rehabilitation centres, and 12 psychiatric nursing homes, all of which are regularly checked for compliance with operational norms. During the 7th SLC NCORD meeting, the Health Department was directed to establish de-addiction treatment facilities in every district hospital. The Education Department and all Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to implement the ‘Nav Chetna Modules’ to sensitize high school and college students about the dangers of drug abuse. Additionally, 971 investigating officers have been trained in NDPS case investigations. The meeting was also attended by Haryana Home Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Director General Police Shatrujeet Kapur, Director General Prisons Mohammad Akil and ADGP O.P. Singh.
Drug addiction has affected not only our country but also every country of the World. Youth is considered the productive and creative age of human life. It is also a vital age for the development of any country. Today, there is no part of the world that is free from the curse of drug trafficking and drug obsession has engulfed the whole world because people as well as youths in large numbers are addicted to drugs. Use of alcohol and levels of drug abuse have increased extremely in Haryana since the 1990s, and drug abuse among adolescents is due to the venerable age and important developmental stage of life.
Adolescence is the fragile age where there are highest chances of starting to use drugs which not only destroy the health, education and occupation of the user but huge financial loss and breaking down the structure of the society.
A survey revealed bad society and depression are the main causes of drug abuse among the youth. Generally under the pressure of friends, a person comes in contact with drugs and later in life becomes addicted to drugs. Information reveals, drug abuse in Haryana is fast increasing since past few years, especially in eight districts neighboring Punjab and Rajasthan. Drug treatment is not only important for the particular person as well as his/her family but it is also imperative in reducing crime rate in the society. Cognitive behavioral therapy, medications, or combination of both can be used in the treatment plan. Survey also revealed that not only male youths, but also female students and working women staying in hostels or private lodges are seen using drugs. Earlier, Punjab was usually known as ‘Udta Punjab’, but at present Haryana is generally known as ‘Udta Haryana’.
Recently, the CIA staff of Jind Police in Haryana on a secret information has achieved a major success in the case of drug smuggling. The team of CIA Jind has busted a drug smuggling gang used to supply drugs in Haryana and recovered 16 kg 306 grams of opium worth rupees 50 lakh rupees from their possession. The arrested accused have been identified as Pappu Chaudhary a resident of Kaumna (Jharkhand), Ranjit Yadav resident of Ghanghari (Jharkhand) and Simranjit Singh resident of Dumari (Jharkhand). DSP Uchana Sanjay Kumar said that the team of CIA staff Jind under the leadership of CIA in-charge Manish Kumar seized consignment of drugs from the gang selling narcotics for a long time during raid near Naya bus station Jind while supplying drugs. As soon as the information was received, the police team started checking the vehicles coming from the Jind bus stand by placing a block on the highway bridge near Kaithal Road when a silver colored Swift Dzire car was seen coming from Jind Bus Stand. The police team stopped the car and the boy sitting in the car tried to escape, but the police team immediately surrounded him from all sides. The three youths were asked for the vehicle documents who were unable to produce the same The police team started search the vehicle and seized drugs: 7 kg 228 grams of opium was found in one polythene and 9 kg 78 grams of opium in the back trunk of the vehicle with the total weight of both of them was 16 kg 306 grams. A case was registered against the three accused under Section 18B/61/85 of the NDPS Act at Sadar Jind police station.
Police information reveals that Haryana Police registered 3,757 FIRs and arrested 5,350 people under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS),1985 till December 2023. The haul included 590 kg charas, 4,950 kg ganja, 34 kg heroin, 310 kg opium, and 33,602 kg poppy husk, with Sirsa leading in 582 cases and with 766 arrests. According to Haryana Narcotics Control Bureau, top 10 districts in Haryana for drug cases with effect from 1st Jan to 8th Dec , 2023 are Sirsa, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Kurukshetra, Fatehabad , Ambala , Yamunanagar , Hisar, Rohtak and Panchkula. Studies by the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development and Indian Council for Social Science Research Report revealed that the drug problem to youth is generally due to increasing unemployment and frustration. Sources reveal, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Report urban unemployment rate for the 15-29 age group increased between 9.5% to 11.2% in the state during the year 2024. Whereas, according to the report, for women in the 15-29 age group in urban areas, the unemployment rate rose to between 13.9% to 17.2% as compared to the previous quarter. There is an immediate need to educate the youths on the damaging effects of drugs on their lives, families, and communities.
Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau (HSNCB) has launched a pioneering project called ‘Chakravyuh: aims to keep teenagers away from narcotics addiction. Information reveals, drugs have reached every village, street and locality of Haryana. However, Haryana has intensified its campaign against drug abuse through effective law enforcement, comprehensive awareness campaigns, and continuous public support for de-addiction initiatives. After participating in the 7th high-level Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) meeting, chaired by Union Home Minister, Sh. Amit Shah via video conference, Haryana Chief Secretary, TVSN Prasad stated that from January 2023 to March 2024, as many as 2,405 NDPS cases were registered, resulting in the arrest of 3,562 individuals. Additionally, 24 preventive detention orders were issued under the PIT-NDPS Act, and property of drug smugglers of value worth Rs. 9.59 crore was seized. The anti-drug campaign was also conducted in 10 vulnerable districts, and 35 narco dog checks were carried out at inter-state and inter-district borders to curb drug trafficking. The Chief Secretary recently stated the State government has taken significant steps in combating drug addiction at the grassroots level at the village and ward levels, a total of 7,523 addicts have been identified and encouraged to seek de-addiction in the past sometime. The Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau, dedicated to addressing substance abuse issues, has provided professional help to 550 individuals, supporting them in their journey towards a drug-free life in a campaign going on at present to wipe out drug smuggling and drug addiction, especially among youths in the state.
