Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur on Tuesday said that as a part of the ongoing anti-drug campaign by the State Police, as many as 3,084 villages and 660 wards have been declared drug-free by November 30, 2024. “This means that 41.66 per cent of Haryana's villages and 39.74 per cent of its wards have successfully become drug-free,” he added.

To ensure a drug-free State, Gram Prahari and Ward Prahari have been appointed in every village and ward across the State. These personnel monitor drug-related activities and also assist individuals in overcoming their addiction to drugs, DGP added.

Kapur said that the Haryana Police also organizes sports activities in both rural and urban areas to keep children and youth away from drugs. These activities are conducted with the support of 1,522 Special Police Officers (SPOs) who are overseeing the programs across the state. During these events, the youth are not only encouraged to stay away from drugs but are also educated about their harmful effects. Through these sports activities, a total of 2,27,458 youth in Haryana have been engaged so far. In addition, district-level competitions are held periodically to ensure that the youth remain physically and mentally healthy.

The DGP further said that the anti-drug campaign led by the State Police is beginning to show positive results, with an increasing number of people participating across the State. A recent example of this success was seen in Charkhi Dadri district, where the panchayats of nine villages have turned the initiative into a people's movement. These villages have not only declared themselves drug-free but have also put up signs at their entrances proclaiming, “Hamara Gaon Nasha Mukt Hai” (Our Village is Drug-Free). The villagers are actively working to ensure that no youth falls victim to drugs and that no drug-related activities, including buying and selling, occur in the village, he added.