Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday announced that Joint Task Forces will be constituted across rural and urban areas to curb drug abuse and dismantle the narcotics network in the state. Chairing a review meeting of the SEWA Department under the Haryana Vision-2047 roadmap, the Chief Minister said the task forces will include local elected representatives, police officials, administrative officers and NGOs to identify drug hotspots and launch special drives against drug peddlers. He said the government aims to create such a strong enforcement mechanism that those involved in the illegal drug trade are forced to abandon the business.
The Chief Minister also directed officials to strengthen rehabilitation measures by opening more de-addiction and rehabilitation centres across the state. He said individuals completing treatment should be monitored for three months and provided skill training and employment opportunities to help them reintegrate into society. Officials informed the meeting that Haryana currently has 119 de-addiction centres, 29 rehabilitation centres and two mental health hospitals, while a new rehabilitation centre will be developed in Kurukshetra under the PPP model. The state has also introduced a Drug Addict Monitoring System to ensure continued support after rehabilitation.
Besides reviewing anti-drug initiatives, the Chief Minister assessed the implementation of welfare schemes related to pensions, scholarships, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and the Lado Lakshmi Yojana. He directed officials to simplify beneficiary data correction, establish Senior Citizen Clubs in every district, expedite pending scholarship disbursements and ensure no eligible woman is deprived of benefits under the Lado Lakshmi Yojana. He also reviewed the progress of new de-addiction centres in Sirsa, Dabwali and Ellenabad, along with other commitments under the Haryana Vision-2047 roadmap.
