Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that drug abuse is not merely a law and order challenge but a matter intrinsically linked with society, family, culture and nation-building. While the Government can curb the drug trade through legislation and strict police action, a lasting solution to this social evil is possible only when the entire society unites against it and transforms the fight into a mass movement. He said that under the Haryana Uday Campaign, a comprehensive public awareness drive would be launched across the State by strengthening Community Policing and public participation to make Haryana drug-free.
The Chief Minister was addressing the Samvad with NGOs and Chemist Associations on Nasha Mukt Haryana under the Haryana Uday Campaign at Panchkula on Saturday. He also administered the Anti-Drug Pledge to all those present during the programme.
The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, the country is moving forward with the goal of building a Viksit Bharat. He said that this objective can be achieved only when the youth of the country and the State remain free from drugs and channelise their energy towards nation-building. He said that Nasha Mukt Haryana is not merely a social campaign but also a strong foundation for building a Viksit Haryana and a Viksit Bharat. The State Government is continuously working in this direction and, with the cooperation of every section of society, will transform this campaign into a mass movement, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
Nasha Mukt Haryana is a campaign to secure the future of coming generations
The Chief Minister said that the resolve for Nasha Mukt Haryana is not merely the need of the present but a campaign that will determine the future of the coming generations. Every individual, institution, social organisation, chemist, police officer and citizen contributing to this campaign is playing an important role in building a ‘Surakshit, Swasth aur Sashakt’ Haryana of the future, he said.
The Chief Minister said that today’s Samvad is not merely a Government programme but a proclamation of the collective resolve that will shape the future of the coming generations. It is a campaign to build a Haryana where dreams of nation-building shine in the eyes of the youth. Welcoming all NGOs organisations, social workers, members of the chemist community, police officers and aware citizens associated with the campaign, he said that every citizen has a vital role to play in making the State drug-free.
Drug abuse destroys not only an individual but entire families and society
The Chief Minister said that drug abuse is a social evil that leads an individual towards ruin. It destroys not only the body but also self-confidence, families, values and the social fabric, ultimately weakening the nation’s collective strength. He said that India is the youngest country in the world and Haryana is among the most energetic States in the country. The youth of Haryana have brought laurels to the State and the nation in sports, education, science, industry and several other fields. If these very young people fall into the grip of drug addiction, it will not merely be the loss of an individual but a defeat for the entire society, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
He further said that drug abuse does not destroy only one person’s life but it also robs a mother of her smile, a father of his support, a sister of her sense of security, a wife of her trust and children of their future. Therefore, the fight against drugs is not merely an issue of law and order but one that concerns humanity, family, culture and nation-building, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
This social evil can be eradicated only through a mass movement
The Chief Minister said that history bears testimony to the fact that whenever society has collectively resolved to fight a social evil, even the impossible has become possible. Mahatma Gandhi transformed the freedom movement into a mass movement, and Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi mobilised crores of people through public participation under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Likewise, there is now a need to build a widespread mass movement against drug abuse, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
He said that while the Government can enact laws, the police can take action against criminals and the courts can ensure justice, it is society itself that has the responsibility of changing its own mindset.
Appreciating the NGOs from across the State, Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that social service is not merely a responsibility but the highest tradition of public welfare. Wherever the reach of the Government is limited, NGOs reach the last person in society. When a young person begins to lose hope or falls into the grip of drug addiction, these organisations extend a helping hand and guide him or her towards a new direction.
The Chief Minister said that working selflessly for the welfare of society is the hallmark of Indian culture, and the NGOs of the State are carrying forward this noble tradition. He called upon all social organisations to transform the Nasha Mukt Haryana campaign into a mass movement by reaching every village, every ward and every locality, and by engaging in friendly Samvad with young people in schools, colleges and playgrounds to make them aware of the harmful consequences of drug abuse. He said that many young people become victims of circumstances; therefore, instead of reprimanding them or distancing ourselves from them, it is essential to provide them with proper guidance and a positive environment.
Chemists are not merely medicine sellers; they are guardians of society’s health
The Chief Minister described the role of the representatives of the Chemist Associations present at the programme as extremely important and said that chemists do not merely deal in medicines but also safeguard the health and trust of society. Their counters hold not only medicines but also the trust of the people.
He said that every chemist must exercise the utmost vigilance and responsibility while dispensing medicines that are susceptible to misuse for drug abuse. If any prohibited or sensitive medicine falls into the wrong hands, its adverse consequences are not confined to a single individual but affect the entire family and society. He expressed confidence that the chemist fraternity of Haryana would discharge its social responsibility with complete dedication and ensure that medicines remain a means of saving lives and never become an instrument of destruction.
Along with taking action against drug peddlers, eliminating the demand for drugs is also the Government’s objective
The Chief Minister said that Haryana is known not only as the land of wrestlers but also as the land of saints, the Guru tradition, brave warriors, hardworking farmers and the remarkable achievements of its daughters. The State’s glorious identity, he asserted, will never be allowed to be overshadowed by the darkness of drug abuse, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
He said that the Government’s objective is not merely to arrest those involved in drug trafficking but also to eliminate the demand for drugs in society. When families become aware, society becomes aware, and young people themselves choose to stay away from drugs, the illegal drug trade will automatically begin to weaken. This, he said, is the greatest strength of Community Policing and will form the very foundation of this campaign’s success.
