Mumbai, Jul 30 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday called for active participation of stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, students and parents, to work together to achieve the goal of a “drug-free Mumbai” in the next two to four years.
Speaking at a “Drug-Free Mumbai” pledge event at the NSCI Dome at Worli, Fadnavis, who holds the Home portfolio, noted India’s enemies know they can not defeat it in a direct fight so they are using other nefarious ways to weaken the country.
A new tactic is being deployed to make the country hollow from inside by getting the younger generation addicted to narcotics which will eventually weaken India, he stated.
On the occasion, Fadnavis administered a pledge to youth to stay away from drugs.
He said some forces within the country have joined hands for earning money by engaging in drug trade and called it a “pseudo war”.
The CM insisted it necessary to declare a public war against the menace of drugs.
“Police, health, education officials, students, teachers and even parents have to work together to combat the menace. Police will certainly work to stop the supply of narcotics, but if youth and students decide and say no to drugs, no one can dare sell drugs,” Fadnavis opined.
Those who sell drugs outside schools, colleges will be arrested, their linkages will be investigated and their bosses traced and brought to book, he assured.
“We will make a drug-free Mumbai and drug-free Bharat in the next two-three-four years,” the CM declared.
He asserted the road to a drug-free Mumbai and Maharashtra goes through college campuses and schools where there is no place for narcotics.
The CM said he will write to all principals of schools and colleges, seeking their help in fighting the menace.
He noted students can act as eyes and ears and provide information to law enforcement agencies about drugs supply around educational institutes. Names of such students will be kept anonymous and they will also be rewarded.
Referring to findings of a survey, he said if someone stays away from drugs till turning 21 or 22 years, then that person does not take narcotics in later years.
Fadnavis’s Cabinet colleague Mangal Prabhat Lodha, who was also present at the event, insisted the success of the state government’s drug-free initiative would depend on active public participation, asserting the campaign should grow into a people’s movement to curb substance abuse.
Talking to reporters, Lodha said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already appealed for a drug-free India and Fadnavis had taken the initiative forward in Maharashtra.
“The initiative needs people’s participation. The state government alone cannot put a curb on drug abuse,” opined the Minister of Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Lodha, who is also the Guardian Minister of Mumbai Suburban, said every school and college in the state would have committees to keep a check on drug consumption and spread awareness among students.
He highlighted the harmful effects of drug abuse on young people and added fighting the menace should become a people’s movement.
The Maharashtra government on Thursday launched the year-long ‘Drug-Free Mumbai’ campaign.
The campaign seeks to spread the message, “Say no to drugs, say yes to life”, while promoting a healthy and responsible lifestyle among young citizens.
Government officials said the initiative would bring together educational institutions, counsellors, parents and social groups to create widespread awareness about the dangers of drug abuse. PTI PR ND RSY
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