Overview
- Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the public campaign in Shimla, leading a Ridge‑to‑Chaura Maidan walkathon to kick off the effort.
- The government plans to create 1,000 Anti‑Chitta Volunteers to connect communities with police, following police identification of users and mafias at the panchayat level.
- Authorities highlight enforcement under the PIT‑NDPS Act and new statutes that allow the death penalty, life terms, fines up to ₹10 lakh and seizure of traffickers’ property.
- Recent actions include an anti‑drug Special Task Force, 13 designated police stations, proceedings against at least 80 government employees, property seizures over ₹42 crore, nearly 70 smugglers identified and at least 44 peddlers detained.
- The strategy centers on awareness, tougher action against mafias and rehabilitation that treats addicted youth as patients, with thousands taking part in the launch and participants pledging to avoid drugs.