Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh), Feb 13 (IANS) In a groundbreaking move to combat the escalating drug crisis in Himachal Pradesh, Panchayat representatives in Bilaspur district have taken a firm stance against the deadly drug trade, specifically targeting the smuggling of ‘Chitta (a synthetic drug made from heroin).’
The representatives, alarmed by the increasing number of drug abuse cases, have passed an unprecedented resolution: Families of youth involved in drug trafficking will be stripped of crucial government benefits, including housing schemes and subsidised rations.
The decision was taken during a Gram Sabha meeting in Bari Majherwan under the Ghumarwin subdivision.
These families — whose members are under investigation or facing charges related to drug abuse under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) — will now be excluded from Panchayat-provided services, a measure aimed at curbing the illegal drug trade in the area.
Four families have already been affected by the ban, with more likely to follow as additional cases are identified in nearby Panchayats.
Speaking to IANS, Pankaj Chandel, the Pradhan of Bari Majherwan Panchayat in Bilaspur said, “As a Panchayat, we have not received any instructions from the department, government, or from our side to stop anyone’s ration or take such actions against anyone. There is no directive like that.
“The Government of India, the Himachal Pradesh Government, and relevant departments encourage raising awareness through Gram Sabhas, particularly regarding drug abuse, so that our rural youth and schoolchildren stay clear of this harmful practice.
“However, to our knowledge, there has been no proposal from the Panchayat to withhold anyone’s ration. There is no legal provision in our act for this, and neither the government nor the department has issued any such instruction. Even if a child from a family is found involved in drug abuse, it cannot justify depriving the entire family of its entitled benefits.”
Deputy Head of the Dakri Panchayat, Pawan Jamwal, emphasised the importance of the Panchayat’s role in fighting drug abuse, stating that the ban on Panchayat facilities will remain until the court clears the involved individuals. He called for cooperation across other Panchayats to intensify efforts against the narcotic menace.
The District Development and Panchayat Officer, Tilak Raj, defended the decision as part of an ongoing public awareness campaign against drugs. The aim is to empower communities to take charge of their future by eliminating the roots of addiction.
–IANS
jk/rad
Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by TodayIndia.news and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of TodayIndia.news We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, TodayIndia.news takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.
For any legal details or query please visit original source link given with news or click on Go to Source.
Our translation service aims to offer the most accurate translation possible and we rarely experience any issues with news post. However, as the translation is carried out by third part tool there is a possibility for error to cause the occasional inaccuracy. We therefore require you to accept this disclaimer before confirming any translation news with us.
If you are not willing to accept this disclaimer then we recommend reading news post in its original language.
