Bhubaneswar: The State Government has decided to set up a State Monitoring Cell for planning and coordination of the drug de-addiction activities being taken by the Government in the State.
This decision was taken at the first meeting of the State Nasha Mukta Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) Committee held here recently under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary, Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Bishnupada Sethi.
Shri Sethi, who is Chairperson of the Committee, advised for strict implementation of cigarette ban order and visits to the institutions, hospitals for assessment of preparedness and implementation.
The committee discussed about formulating State Abhiyaan Activities, guiding and overseeing the implementation of District Level NMBA, increase community participation and public cooperation, ensuring formulation and implementation of the District Level NMBA in identified vulnerable districts in the State, conducting training programmes for the service providers at State level, district level, and below district level, developing a Social media strategy for the State Abhiyaan and implementation.
Volunteers (retired Government officers having interest in the drug de-addiction field, parents, etc.) will be enlisting to create mass awareness. Sports & Yoga will be promoted in the educational institutions and de-addiction centres will be done involving other departments and partners.
It was decided to collaborate with NGOs and other civil organizations for taking up NMBA across the State.
The Government has also decided to conduct a national short film festival on the theme of “Drug Menace” like the one done by the Commerce and Transport Department on Road Safety matters.
Similarly, the SSEPD Department will work closely with the Department of Excise, Government of Odisha & Narcotics Control Bureau for more activities on reducing drug demand and drug addiction.
Commissioner of Police Soumendra Priyadarshi, who was present in the meeting, threw light on DREAMS project (De-addiction, Reformation & Entrepreneurial Assistance for Making a Safe Society)- an initiative started by Commissionerate of Police of Bhubaneswar UPD and various such awareness programmes taken up by the Commissionerate of Police on De-addiction projects in Bhubaneswar & Cuttack,
He stated that the Commissionerate of Police on De-addiction matters in Bhubaneswar & Cuttack. Further, he emphasized on physically reaching out to the educational institutions and creating awareness among the students on substance abuse.