Chandigarh, Sept 25– Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal, declared a comprehensive ban on serving 'hookah' to customers in hotels, restaurants, bars, and commercial establishments across the state. However, this prohibition will not apply to traditional hookahs used in rural areas.
The Chief Minster made these and other announcements while addressing the closing ceremony of the state-level 'Cyclothon' – cycle rally - as part of the drug de-addiction campaign in Karnal, the city of Danveer Karna today.
The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the police personnel who tirelessly pedaled for 25 days during the Cyclothon. In recognition of their dedication, he announced that all 250 participating personnel would receive a Class-1 commendation certificate from the DGP Haryana. Additionally, he declared a five-day holiday for these dedicated police personnel as a token of appreciation.
In a bid to promote cycling and encourage eco-friendly transportation, Shri Manohar Lal also announced that Haryana Shahri Vikas Pradhikaran and any licensed builder providing housing facilities to individuals will gift a bicycle to the property owner along with the property registry. In cases where the beneficiary already possesses a bicycle, HSVP or the builder will present Rs 3000 in lieu of the cycle.
He recounted that he had flagged off Cyclothon against drug abuse on September 1, 2023, and today, the cycle rally concludes where it commenced. He also expressed his gratitude to the participating youth and commended their efforts to combat drug addiction. Their dedication sets an inspiring example for the younger generation.
Sh Manohar Lal highlighting the esteemed presence of Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji Maharaj at the event, acknowledging the significance of spiritual leaders' support in the state's de-addiction efforts.
He said that Cyclothon, which has covered approximately 2000 kilometers during its journey, serving as a powerful platform to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of drug addiction. He emphasized that while the Cyclothon may have concluded, the battle against drug addiction is far from over, and public awareness efforts must continue for at least a year to completely eradicate this menace. He also reiterated the importance of collective action, stressing that the entire society needs to unite in the fight against drug addiction. The government remains committed to addressing this issue comprehensively, with a focus on prevention, rehabilitation, and strict enforcement measures.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the proactive measures taken by Haryana Police to combat illegal drug trafficking and sales, including the development of a mobile app called 'Prayas' to collect statewide data on drug victims and drug smugglers. In addition, a software named 'HAWK' has been introduced to create a centralized state database for monitoring criminal activities related to drug trade.
He highlighted the State Action Plan launched on May 5, which consists of three components: a public awareness campaign, de-addiction and rehabilitation efforts, and strict actions against drug traffickers. The state is also focused on channeling youth energy into constructive pursuits, with a particular emphasis on sports culture to promote mental and physical well-being, he added.
He said that state government has taken several measures to combat drug addiction, including the establishment of an Inter-State Drug Secretariat, the opening of drug de-addiction centers and the reinforcement of treatment and counseling facilities.
The Chief Minister appealed to citizens to raise awareness about the harmful effects of drug addiction among addicts and to inform the police about sale, purchase and consumption of drugs by dialing 9050891508, assuring them of confidentiality.
Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji Maharaj, MP Sh Sanjay Bhatia, MLAs Sh Ramkumar Kashyap, Sh Harvinder Kalyan, Sh Dharampal Gondhar and others were also present on this occasion.