Hry to launch campaign to curb drug menace

With drug menace engulfing the youth of Punjab and Haryana, the Manohar Lal Khattar Government in Haryana has decided to launch a special campaign to control the menace of drugs, especially in the districts bordering Punjab.

The campaign would include prevention of sale of drugs, treatment of the drug addicts, and making people aware about the adverse effects of drugs on their health, said Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Krishan Kumar Bedi while talking to the mediapersons here.

He said that a task force has already been formed at the district level under the chairmanship of the deputy commissioner concerned.

A committee has also been constituted at the state level under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, in which representatives from health, home, social justice and empowerment and other departments have been included to deal with the issue.

Only a day back, Leader of opposition in Haryana Assembly and INLD’s senior leader Abhay Chautala had alleged that cases of drug smuggling and addiction are increasing in the state and the government is trying to save the accused in such cases.

Reacting to his statement, Bedi said that either Chautala should prove his statement otherwise we will drag him to the court.

The INLD is fighting the last battle of existence and after 2019, the shop named INLD will be closed forever, the Minister said.

Bedi further said 60 Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centers are operating in the state in collaboration with non-government organizations (NGOs). Besides, such centers are operating in district hospitals also.

The Minister said such voluntary institutions are given grant by the Department.

During 2017-18, an amount of Rs 217.17 lakh was distributed to 22 voluntary organizations. In the current financial year, provision has been made for Rs 230.11 lakh for such organizations, he added.

Ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh under the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Accident Assistance Scheme

The State Government has decided to give ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh under the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Accident Assistance Scheme, to the family in case the deceased is between 18 and 70 years of age, and he dies in an accident, Bedi said.

He said that during the reign of the previous government, the scheme was functional in the name of Rajiv Gandhi Parivar Bima Yojna. Then, the benefit was given only in case the deceased was between 18 and 60 years of age, was head of the family, and fell in BPL category. But now, decision has been taken to remove these conditions and increase the age limit to 70 years.

Under the scheme, assistance of Rs 1 lakh would be given, provided the deceased is not a beneficiary of any such Central Government scheme, Bedi added.

Social security pension to be increased

Old age pension and other social security pensions would be increased from Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,000 per month from November 1 onwards, said the Minister.

Spelling out the achievements of his Department, he said that a sum of about Rs 448 crore is being disbursed to 25,12,535 beneficiaries per month under all social pension schemes in the state.

He said that a target has been set to make government buildings accessible to disabled persons in 10 districts namely Panchkula, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Hisar and Rewari.

Bedi added that special identity cards were being given to disabled persons.

As many as 12,000 disabled persons have so far been registered for special ID cards, of which such cards have been issued to more than 10,000 beneficiaries.