Dharamsala hosted a joint programme on June 26, 2026, to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and to promote tuberculosis (TB) awareness. The event was organized by the Departments of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Health Department, and the NGO Goonj.
Chief Guest Emphasizes Public Participation
Shahpur MLA Kewal Singh Pathania, who attended as chief guest, stated that the state government is committed to making Himachal Pradesh drug-free and stressed that public participation is essential to achieve this goal. He highlighted the effectiveness of the Anti-Chitta Model introduced by the state government under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, noting that it is curbing drug trafficking and attracting attention from other states.
Comprehensive Strategy Against Drug Abuse
Pathania explained that after the formation of the present government, a comprehensive strategy was prepared to tackle the growing menace of ‘chitta’ (heroin). As part of this plan, mapping of drug abuse and trafficking was carried out down to the panchayat level. He added that Himachal Pradesh became the first state in the country to categorize panchayats into red, yellow, and green zones based on the prevalence of drug abuse and trafficking.
Goonj's Role and TB Awareness Activities
Goonj director Vijay Kumar spoke about the harmful effects of drug abuse and various prevention measures. Pathania appreciated the organization’s efforts and said the government would consider implementing the roadmap prepared by Goonj to combat substance abuse. As part of the TB awareness campaign, students delivered messages on prevention and early detection of the disease through skits, poster-making competitions, and speech contests.
