Shimla, June 17
Welcoming the Himachal Pradesh government’s initiative of administering a “Chitta-Free Panchayat” pledge to newly elected panchayat representatives, the Himachal Gyan Vigyan Samiti on Wednesday said the state’s objective should extend beyond eliminating chitta and focus on making Himachal completely drug-free.
Reacting to the move, State Secretary Satyavan Pundir said the issue of substance abuse cannot be viewed solely through the lens of chitta (heroin). Citing findings from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), he said Himachal Pradesh is among the leading states in North India in terms of alcohol consumption.
According to the survey, nearly 30 per cent of men aged 15 years and above consume alcohol, significantly higher than the national average. Among women, the figure stands at around 0.6 per cent. Pundir pointed out that alcohol consumption is more prevalent in rural areas than in urban regions, while nearly 28.9 per cent of adult men use tobacco in some form.
He said tobacco products, including bidis and cigarettes, often serve as the gateway to substance abuse, with many individuals eventually progressing to more dangerous narcotics. Therefore, if the government is serious about tackling the menace, it must launch a comprehensive campaign against alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes, synthetic drugs and other intoxicants, rather than focusing exclusively on chitta.
Pundir questioned whether the government’s goal was a “Chitta-Free Himachal” or a genuinely “Drug-Free Himachal”. He noted that several synthetic and chemical drugs, many of them more dangerous and lethal than chitta, are increasingly prevalent across the state.
He further stated that symbolic measures such as oath-taking ceremonies and formal programmes alone would not resolve the crisis. Instead, he stressed the need for sustained awareness campaigns and social intervention programmes involving schools, colleges, panchayats, women’s groups, youth organisations and civil society institutions, particularly targeting adolescents and young people.
“The fight against addiction requires collective social action and long-term awareness efforts. A comprehensive strategy is essential if Himachal is to become truly drug-free,” he added.
