SHIMLA-12^th November, 2024-While speaking as a chief guest in a seminar organized by Sunil Upadhyay Educational Trust, Shimla on "Increasing drug addiction in Himachal: Problem and Solution" at the historic Gaiety Theater here today, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said that with strong determination we could make Devbhoomi Himachal Pradesh a drug-free as the reason and solution were within the society itself.

The Governor said that social organizations and Panchayats could also play an important role in making the state drug-free. He urged the students to expose anti-social elements involved in the illegal drug business as such efforts by the youth organizations could be very helpful in sharing the future generation from drug addiction.

Shri Shukla urged the people to not let the children of others get addicted to drugs first, only then they could stop their own children aware from this menace. He said that another reason for drug addiction was the unchecked demand for drugs. He said that the Government was working at its level but people have to be aware about this sensitive issue. He suggested that the government should open drug prevention centres at its own level.

He said that ever since he became the Governor of Himachal, he has been working against drug addiction. He expressed hope that when the people of the state re-establish their rich traditions, only then we could win this battle against drugs.

key speaker O.P. Sharma, said that drug addiction had taken a serious form in the society today and 'Chitta' had reached the far-flung areas of the State. He said that there was a lack of human sensitivity in the society in this matter and we were not even able to assess it. He stressed on implementing an integrated drug prevention policy in the State. He said that awareness about this subject should continue in society. He said that this problem was as much of the society as it was of the government.

Vice-President of Sunil Upadhyay Educational Trust Shimla Ashok Sharma and Prof. Sanjay Sharma from HP University Shimla also expressed their views.

Joint Secretary of Sunil Upadhyay Educational Trust Nitin Vyas presented a vote of thanks.