Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here today launched a special Drug Prevention Helpline under Mukhya Mantri Sewa Sankalp Helpline 1100. The objective of this helpline is to provide necessary guidance and counselling on drug abuse. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also launched the official website of Himachal Pradesh Nasha Nivaran Board, which consists of information about the vision and goals of the board. Jai Ram Thakur said that this helpline would connect drug dependent person or their parents with the nodal officers of Himachal Pradesh Nasha Nivaran Board and State Mental Health Authority in Shimla for initial counselling and guidance.
If required, the person would further be referred to the nearest hospital, medical college, Integrated Rehabilitation and Counselling Centre with facilities for psychiatric treatment. The Chief Minister said the State Government has laid special emphasis on making good and quality drug prevention and rehabilitation system for those trapped in drug addiction. He said that the government has adopted a plan to make continuous multi-pronged efforts to solve the problems in an integrated manner. In this direction, the government is contemplating to bring a State Integrated Drug Prevention Policy, in which a multi-pronged strategy and effective action strategy will be formulated in a practical manner to deal with all forms of drug abuse. Jai Ram Thakur said that this multifaceted problem was raised in the Inter-State Chief Minister level interaction with the Chief Ministers of neighbouring states and an action plan was also prepared in this regard.
He said that the present government was working in coordination with the neighbouring States, Central Government and International organisations such as United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for South Asia. Convener and Advisor of the Board, Om Prakash Sharma, submitted the report of the performance of Himachal Pradesh Nasha Nivaran Board to the Chief Minister, highlighting the activities of the Board since inception. Commissioner State Tax and Excise and Member Secretary Nasha Nivaran Board Yunus welcomed the Chief Minister. Special Secretary State Tax and Excise Nivedita Negi and non-official members of the Board were also present on the occasion.
