DEPUTY COMMISSIONER REVIEWS PROGRESS OF “DAPO" & “BUDDY” PROGRAMMES

Ludhiana, June 10, 2019: For rooting out all kinds of drugs from the state, the Punjab government has started “DAPO” and “BUDDY” programmes and the review meeting of these programmes was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Mr Pradeep Kumar Agrawal at Bachat Bhawan, here today. During the meeting, he directed all the officials that for effective implementation of these programmes, structural efforts should be taken within next 7 days so that positive results can be achieved. Besides, it was also decided that at police station level, 5 villages each would be made drug free by June 26, 2019 and directed that the SHOs would take personal interest in this regard. While chairing this meeting, Deputy Commissioner said that there is a need to review the structural widening of both these programmes. He directed all SDMs that along with SHOs, they should identify those areas where problem of drug addiction is still prevalent. He said that drug prevention vigilance committees and coordinators at cluster level and newly elected Panchayats should be roped in to ensure that the problem of drugs is rooted out from grassroots level. Mr Agrawal said that the Punjab government is celebrating special awareness fortnight from June 12-26, 2019, wherein workshops, seminars, rallies and through other mediums, people would be made aware about the ill effects of drugs. He directed all SDMs, along with concerned DSP/ACP, should urge the earlier registered DAPO’s to start working in this regard once again and more DAPO’s should also be registered. He clarified that the state government would not tolerate any discrepancies when it comes to wiping out drugs and also directed that daily reports should be sent on time. Regarding the BUDDY programme, he directed that new BUDDY’s should be registered in all educational institutions within next 15 days. He also directed that record of former drug addicts should be prepared with the help of Guardians of Governance (GoG’s). The health department was directed that raids in connection to medicines used as drugs should be intensified. He also appealed to the residents that they should provide information about any drug related activities in their respective areas to the police or civil administration and assured that strict action would certainly be taken. While addressing the meeting, Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, directed the SHOs to identify 5 villages each under their respective police stations that can be declared drug free by June 26. He said that senior officials would soon themselves visit the villages and take first hand feedback. He warned that if the involvement of any police official in drug related activity is found, departmental as well as strict legal action would be taken against him. He said that oath taking functions would be organised at police station level on June 26. The meeting was also attended by SSP Ludhiana (Rural) Mr Varinder Singh Brar, SSP Khanna Mr Gursharanjit Singh Grewal, ADC Khanna Mr Jaspal Singh, all SDMs, all SPs, all ADCPs, besides several others.