Shivaji Press Club and Yamunanagar Police join hands for a district-wide awareness drive against drug abuse, with SP Kamaldeep Goyal as chief guest
PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK YAMUNANAGAR:
To strengthen the campaign against the growing menace of drug abuse in Yamunanagar district, the Shivaji Press Club Yamunanagar Trust and Yamunanagar Police will jointly launch a public awareness initiative titled ‘Nashhe Se Jung, Yamunanagar Police Ke Sang’ from Devdhar village in Chhachhrauli subdivision on September 8.
The campaign will formally begin at 3:30 pm and is aimed at creating sustained public awareness about the harmful effects of drug abuse, particularly among young people. The organisers said the initiative will encourage citizens to stay away from drugs while also promoting support and social rehabilitation for people who have already fallen victim to addiction.
Yamunanagar Superintendent of Police Kamaldeep Goyal will attend the launch programme as the chief guest. Advocate Sushil Arya, District Coordinator for the Yamunanagar Police’s anti-drug social campaign Sahi Raah, will be present as the special guest.
The launch is expected to bring together representatives from around 10 neighbouring villages. Panchayat members, village heads, social workers and other prominent residents will participate in the programme. Officers and personnel from the relevant wing of the district police will also be present, while Pratap Nagar Police will provide special support for the event.
The organisers said the campaign has been planned with the understanding that drug abuse cannot be addressed through enforcement alone. Awareness, community participation, early intervention and support for people seeking to leave addiction behind are also important components of a sustained response.
Devdhar has been selected as the starting point because the village has faced challenges associated with drug abuse for a considerable period. At the same time, the village panchayat has taken collective steps to address the problem and has worked to discourage both drug selling and drug consumption in the area.
The efforts made by the panchayat and residents have been one of the key reasons for selecting Devdhar as the starting point of the awareness campaign. The organisers believe that community participation can play a significant role in creating an environment in which young people are encouraged to remain away from drugs and families receive support in dealing with addiction-related challenges.
Shivaji Press Club president Ravinder Chauhan said the fight against drug abuse cannot be considered the responsibility of the police or any single organisation. He said every section of society must participate in efforts to address the problem.
Chauhan said the campaign would take the message against drug abuse from one village to another and encourage people to become active participants in the effort. Special emphasis will be placed on young people, with the organisers seeking to motivate them to make healthy choices and remain away from substance abuse.
According to the organisers, the campaign will also recognise people who have successfully changed their lives after leaving the drug trade or overcoming addiction. Individuals who have abandoned drug-related activities and those who have recovered from addiction and returned to normal life will be honoured during the launch programme.
SP Kamaldeep Goyal will felicitate such individuals as part of the programme. The organisers believe that publicly recognising people who have overcome addiction can give them confidence and encourage others facing similar difficulties to seek help and work towards recovery.
The organisers said the purpose of honouring these individuals is not merely to recognise their personal transformation but also to present their experiences as examples for others. People who have successfully moved away from addiction can demonstrate that recovery and a return to a productive life are possible with determination, support and appropriate assistance.
Chauhan said the ‘Nashhe Se Jung, Yamunanagar Police Ke Sang’ campaign will not end with the launch event at Devdhar. Following the September 8 programme, awareness activities will be organised in phases across the district.
The campaign will focus particularly on villages where the problem of drug abuse has become a serious concern. Through village-level programmes, the organisers intend to create greater awareness among residents and encourage communities to take collective action against drug-related activities.
The initiative will also seek to strengthen coordination between police officials, village panchayats, social organisations, young people and residents. Such cooperation can help communities identify concerns at an early stage and encourage families to seek assistance when someone is struggling with addiction.
The organisers stressed that the fight against drugs requires a combination of public awareness, community vigilance and institutional support. While police action is essential against those involved in illegal drug trafficking, sustained social participation is also necessary to prevent young people from becoming vulnerable to substance abuse.
The campaign will therefore carry a broader message of prevention and social responsibility. Residents will be encouraged to remain alert, support affected families and discourage activities that can contribute to the spread of drug abuse.
The involvement of local panchayats is expected to be particularly important because village representatives and community members are often closely connected with local residents. Their participation can help strengthen awareness efforts and encourage people to speak up against drug-related activities.
The organisers said young people would remain at the centre of the awareness campaign. They intend to encourage youth to focus on education, constructive activities and healthier lifestyles while highlighting the physical, psychological, social and economic consequences associated with drug abuse.
The campaign’s message is also directed at families and the wider community. The organisers believe that people struggling with addiction should not simply be isolated from society but should receive appropriate support and encouragement to return to productive and healthy lives.
By combining police participation with community mobilisation, the campaign seeks to create a broader platform for addressing the drug problem in Yamunanagar. The organisers hope that the Devdhar launch will become the starting point for a sustained district-wide movement rather than a one-day awareness programme.
Ravinder Chauhan reiterated that the message of the initiative is clear: police, village panchayats, social organisations, young people and ordinary citizens must work together against drug abuse. He said collective action is essential to creating a healthier and drug-free Yamunanagar.
The September 8 launch at Devdhar will therefore mark the beginning of a phased awareness drive across the district. With the participation of police officials, village representatives, social workers and residents, the organisers aim to build stronger community resistance to drug abuse and encourage those affected by addiction to seek a path towards recovery.
The initiative is expected to provide a common platform for enforcement agencies and civil society to work together on an issue that affects families and communities. The organisers said the long-term objective is to promote awareness, encourage rehabilitation and create an environment in which young people can grow without falling into the trap of drug abuse.
