The villages fighting back against drugs, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• Rajthal village in Haryana's Hansi district has initiated a community-led vigil, thekri pehra, and its gram panchayat imposed fines of ₹1 lakh for drug peddling or aiding peddlers.
• Haryana ranks third nationally in the number of people needing help for opioid-related problems, with 5.9 lakh individuals, as per the Magnitude of Substance Use in India-2019 report.
• The drug crisis, initially prevalent in border districts, has spread to the agricultural heartland, leading to increased thefts and safety concerns, particularly for women.
• The Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau (HSNCB) was constituted on August 25, 2020, registering 2,353 FIRs and arresting 6,256 accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
• Assets worth ₹72.70 crore have been seized or attached, and 156 preventive detention orders issued under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988.
• The Panchgama development model, a community-led social intervention program, is set to launch in Jind, covering nearly 300 villages in its first phase.

Detailed Insights:

• The thekri pehra in Rajthal involves round-the-clock community surveillance, with villagers guarding against drug activities.
• The drug menace has led to a rise in thefts, with items like copper wires and motorcycles stolen to finance drug consumption.
• Women in affected villages report increased safety concerns due to drug users, impacting their movement in public spaces.
• The Punjab Village and Small Towns Patrol Act, 1918, historically outlines community patrol duties in emergencies, providing a precedent for such vigils.
• Police efforts, including house-to-house searches, face challenges as drug peddlers adapt by moving or concealing contraband.
• Rehabilitation efforts in Haryana are criticized for focusing primarily on de-addiction rather than long-term psychological recovery and social reintegration.
• There is a significant gap in state-supported rehabilitation centers, with private centers facing regulatory hurdles without government assistance.
• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, commissioned the report highlighting the drug crisis.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Gram Panchayat: A local self-governing body at the village level in India, responsible for local administration and development.
• Thekri Pehra: A traditional community-led vigil or patrol system, often implemented by villagers to maintain security and address local issues.
• Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985: An Indian parliamentary act that prohibits the production, possession, sale, purchase, transport, storage, and consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
• Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988: An Indian law providing for preventive detention in certain cases for the purpose of preventing illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.