Himachal CM administers anti-chitta pledge to newly elected Panchayat representatives, calls for people's movement against drugs
Shimla, June 15
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday administered an anti-drug pledge to newly elected Panchayat Pradhans and Up-Pradhans in Shimla, urging them to spearhead the state's campaign against heroin, locally known as "chitta", and transform their villages into drug-free communities.
The pledge was administered during a swearing-in ceremony attended by representatives from 441 Panchayats of Shimla district at Hotel Peterhoff. Education Minister Rohit Thakur formally administered the oath of office and secrecy to the elected representatives.
Addressing the gathering, Sukhu said Panchayat representatives are uniquely positioned to mobilise communities against drug abuse and create awareness among young people about the dangers of narcotics.
"The fight against chitta cannot be won by the government alone. Panchayat representatives must take this movement to the grassroots and ensure that villages become centres of awareness and resistance against drug abuse," the Chief Minister said.
Speaking to the media, Sukhu said the state government has already completed the first phase of its anti-drug campaign and is now entering the second phase.
"We have already given the campaign the form of a people's movement. The first phase has concluded. In the second phase, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, Additional Deputy Commissioners and other officials will visit schools to educate students and youth about the dangers of chitta," Sukhu said.
Explaining his decision to personally attend the programme, the Chief Minister said he altered his schedule to ensure that the anti-drug pledge was administered.
"I was scheduled to leave for Delhi, but I felt it was important that all newly elected Pradhans and Up-Pradhans take this pledge. I spoke to the Education Minister and the Deputy Commissioner and decided to administer the pledge personally," Sukhu said.
The Chief Minister added that similar anti-drug pledges would be administered across the state, including in Kangra district.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally someone is taking chitta seriously! 😢 We've seen so many families broken by this. My cousin in Mandi lost his son to overdose. Please also ban the synthetic drugs being sold near colleges. Pledges are good but ground-level action is critical.
Interesting how local governments are tackling public health issues. In the US, we mostly leave drug policy to federal/state agencies. This grassroots approach could be effective - community ownership often works better than top-down enforcement.
Respectfully, such pledges have been done many times before. Remember the Nasha Mukt Bharat campaign? What actually worked in states like Punjab was a combination of de-addiction centres, job creation, and strict policing. Hope Himachal learns from those lessons.
As a mother of two teenagers in Shimla, I'm relieved our leaders are acknowledging this crisis. But we need more than pledges - better after-school activities, mental health resources for youth, and employment opportunities. Make villages attractive so youth don't seek escape in drugs.
Chitta has become a scourge in Himachal's tourist areas too. I've seen young locals getting hooked because of easy availability near Manali and Kasol. Glad the CM is personally involved. But please also look at drug tourism - foreign nationals bringing in substances. 🙏
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