DC solicits cooperation of Kapurthala residents in DAPO Program; urges them to get enrolled as volunteers

Kapurthala, March 19, 2018: Shri Mohammad Tayyab, Deputy Commissioner, Kapurthala sought cooperation of the residents of District Kapurthala in the eradication of drug abuse from the district, and appealed them to join hands as volunteers in this campaign by getting themselves enrolled as Drug Abuse Prevention Officers (DAPOs).

In his message addressed to the district residents, Shri Tayyab informed that the Punjab Government has launched the Drug Abuse Prevention Officer (DAPO) Program in which any person above the age of 18 years and who is not a convict in a criminal case or accused in any NDPS Act, 1985 case, can get himself enrolled as a DAPO. This program is open to government employees as well as common citizens. While government employees can get enrolled as Official Volunteers (OVs), common citizens can get enrolled as Citizen Volunteers (CVs). Each person who desires to be an OV or a CV, will have to fill in a separate enrolment Form and submit the same at Police Saanjh Kendras. The scheme guidelines, enrolment forms and other information is available at district Kapurthala's official website, http://kapurthala.gov.in.

Shri Tayyab added that to monitor the implementation of the program, there will be a District Mission Team (DMT) with DC as chairman and SSP and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and other officers as members. At Sub-Divisional level, there will be a Sub-Divisional Mission Team (SDMT) with SDM, DSP, SMO and Sub-Divisional officers as members, while at village/ward level, there will be separate Village/Ward Mission Teams.

The DC informed that this program is purely voluntary and completely honorary, and no remuneration will be paid. He said in the first phase, enrollment of volunteers will be done. On Friday, March 23, which is the martyrdom day of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh and which is being observed as "Youth Empowerment Day", functions will be held at district and Sub-Divisional headquarters as well as in the universities/colleges where mass enrolment will be done and oath will be administered to the DAPOs.

The DC termed this as an opportunity for all the residents of Punjab to contribute towards restoring the glory of Punjab by making it "drug-free". He said each one who is enrolled as DAPO, will be given an enrollment certificate and an identity card. He solicited the support of all universities, colleges, NGOs, youth clubs, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), employee unions and to people from all walks of life and across all age groups to come forward and lend their support in this noble cause.

He said in the second phase, the government will issue guidelines for training of DAPOs and proforma to be filled by DAPOs, VMTs, SDMTs and DMTs for feedback and documentation.