Bathinda Police Launches ‘Ubharda Bathinda’ Program to disseminate message against drugs

Bathinda, : The local police today kicked off a unique initiative under the banner of ‘Ubharda Bathinda’ in order to spread the message against the ill-effects of drugs vis-à-vis making people aware in this regard besides educating youngsters thorough community policing.
Unveiling the ‘Ubharda Bathinda’ here the district police also rolled out a blue print to tackle and eradicate drug menace involving 2547 members of different Saanjh Committees and representatives of various educational institutions, NGOs, youth clubs, so that the program could be executed at ground level in true spirit.
Addressing an impressive gathering of members here, Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Swapan Sharma said that the sole motive of this initiative was to educate and aware the people against drugs and its ill-effects along with a special focus on those families having addicted members. He said that as per the plan they had constituted different committees at various levels including village, ward, police stations, Deputy Superintendent of Police and at the level of Superintendent of Police and the functioning of these committees would be personally monitored by him. He informed that these committees along with the members of different NGOs and other institutions would ensure the dissemination of message against drugs and spreading awareness in this regard without any delay and interruption. He asserted that this program would bring positive and effective results within a month’s time.
Divulging details of the program Mr. Swapan Sharma said that there would be a special feedback mechanism on daily basis. He said that they would ensure prompt necessary and adequate action on the information received under the feedback system. He said that there would be five, Six and four members committees at ward/village, police station/DSP and SP level respectively, which would work in tandem to curb and eliminate this menace. He said that these committees would also work for rehabilitation of identified affected people as well as bringing them back to main stream through continuous counseling sessions. The committees were formed in 303 villages, 161 urban wards including members from 214 schools, 47 colleges/universities and representatives of social organizations, NGOs and youth clubs.
Describing that there was no cultivation of drugs in Punjab, it had been used as ‘transit route’, Mr. Swapan Sharma said that through this program the police would also keep a close check on demand and supply. He said that Punjab Police had cut major supply lines of drugs in recent months and the war against drugs were in full momentum.
Mr. Sharma also gave police helpline numbers 75080-18100, 0164-2212100 and 100 so the people could register any plaint regarding drugs. He said that these helplines would also provide requisite information regarding Rehabilitation and Drug De-Addiction centers for the facilitation of general public. He said that under the awareness drive launched today the committees would also ensure the installation of hoardings having complete information of program and ill-effects of drugs. He said that the hoarding would be installed at Police Stations, Prominent Places in Villages and Wards. He also informed that more than 1 lakh pamphlets carrying message against drugs would also be distributed in first phase especially to the families facing such problems.
Besides representatives of different institutions from Bathinda districts, members of committees, SP City Mr. Des Raj, SP Operation Mr. Gurmit Singh, DSPs of all sub divisions and all SHOs were also present.