Odisha to Launch Massive Awareness Campaign Against Drug Menace from May 31 to June 26

In a high-level review meeting held at Kharavela Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, Minister for Law, Works, and Excise, Prithviraj Harichandan, emphasised the government’s resolve to make Odisha drug-free.

“Since the new government took charge, we have significantly reduced illegal drug trafficking. However, more needs to be done to completely eradicate this menace,” Minister Harichandan stated, urging officials to intensify efforts across all levels.

The month-long campaign will feature a multi-pronged approach to raise awareness and deter drug-related activities. Key activities include:

• Cultural Outreach: Traditional art forms like Pala, Daskathia, and Ghodanach, along with street plays, will be organised in rural and urban markets to educate communities about the harmful effects of drug abuse and trafficking. These performances aim to make the message accessible and relatable to diverse audiences.

• School Engagement: Essay competitions will be held in schools across the state to engage young minds in the fight against drugs. The initiative seeks to foster a sense of responsibility among students and promote the slogan, “Say Yes to Life, No to Drugs.”

• Mobile Awareness Units: Awareness raths (vehicles) will travel across districts, subdivisions, and blocks, spreading the anti-drug message to every corner of Odisha. These mobile units will engage communities directly, ensuring the campaign reaches even remote areas.

• Coordinated Enforcement: The Excise Department, police, and special squads will continue regular raids to dismantle illegal liquor distilleries, seize contraband, and arrest those involved in the drug trade. The government has already made significant progress in this area, with numerous distilleries shut down and vehicles and materials confiscated.

Minister Harichandan stressed the importance of inter-departmental coordination to ensure the campaign’s success. “Every department has a crucial role to play. From schools to gram panchayats, we must take this message to every nook and corner of the state,” he said. He also directed officials to prepare a detailed schedule of daily activities to ensure the campaign’s smooth execution.

Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, who attended the meeting, suggested involving self-help groups (SHGs) in rural areas to amplify the campaign’s reach. He emphasised organising essay competitions at schools and maintaining regular awareness drives to sustain momentum. “Engaging communities at the grassroots level is key to making this initiative impactful,” Ahuja noted.

Excise Commissioner and Secretary Smt. Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar provided an overview of the campaign’s objectives and structure. She highlighted the use of the MANAS Portal and the 1933 helpline to report drug-related activities and raise awareness. “Our goal is to educate people at all levels—schools, colleges, and universities—while ensuring strict action against those involved in the illegal drug trade,” she said.

The campaign will also leverage support from various departments, including Higher Education, Home, Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Commerce and Transport, Sports and Youth Services, School and Mass Education, Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Mission Shakti, ORSAC, and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Bhubaneswar. Senior officials from these departments, along with Excise Commissioner Dharmendra Mallick and DIG (STF) Pinak Mishra, were present at the meeting, underscoring the collaborative effort.

The Odisha government’s proactive measures signal a strong commitment to tackling the drug menace head-on. By combining enforcement with community engagement, the state aims to create a lasting impact, fostering a drug-free future for its citizens. As the campaign rolls out, all eyes will be on Odisha’s efforts to set a model for combating illegal drug activities nationwide.