L-G announces drive against drug menace

Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena announced the launch of a month-long anti-drug campaign beginning December 1. The drive would involve sanitising schools, colleges, hostels, pharmaceutical stores, paan shops, shelter homes, restaurants, railway stations, bus stations and public spaces, Raj Niwas officials said on Tuesday.

“This aggressive initiative is part of a larger plan to make Delhi drug-free within the next three years, much ahead of the target set for making the country drug-free,” they said.

While reviewing a meeting of the state-level committee, Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD), Saxena underlined that the drug menace, apart from having its direct social affect in terms of health of the youth, had a wider international angle to it whereby drugs were being used strategically, to weaken the youth of India and the nation itself.

Saxena has directed the Delhi Police, in collaboration with other relevant agencies, to intensify their efforts to curb drug trafficking and consumption.

For the campaign, the L-G has directed the Delhi Police and other stakeholder agencies to thoroughly check and sanitise at least 200 hostels, 50 colleges, 200 schools, 200 pharmaceutical stores, 500 paan shops, all shelter homes, 200 bars and restaurants, all railway stations, all ISBTs and other public spaces.

“To ensure a drug-free campus environment, nodal officers will be designated and wardens will be made accountable for ensuring drug-free hostels in educational institutions,” an official said.

He directed that the advisories should also be sent to teachers and parents by engaging Social Welfare Department. The Social Welfare Department will actively engage with schools and parents to educate them about the dangers of drug abuse and encourage them to monitor their children’s activities.

Saxena also asked the Delhi Police to widely advertise and announce attractive awards for informants while keeping their identity confidential.

He also directed them that slogans, posters and banners should be prominently displayed all over the city and in the DTC buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis to highlight the harmful effects of drugs and psychotropic substances.

“Extensive public awareness campaigns will be launched through various channels, including television, radio, social media, and outdoor advertising. Slogans, posters and banners will be displayed prominently across the city and in DTC buses and other public transport systems to sensitize the public about the harmful effects of drug abuse,” the official added.

The Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Delhi, has been directed to expedite the disposal of pending cases, which will contribute to the prosecution in drug-related offenses.

“The FSL, which had 1,260 pending cases for last 9-12 months, has been able to bring down the cases to 290 with active intervention of the L-G,” an official said.

The L-G directed the FSL that the analysis in the remaining 290 cases should be completed and disposed of within a month with zero pendency.