Sajag India’s Anti-Drug Drive Highlighted at State Workshop chaired by Chief Secretary Uttarakhand
At a high-level workshop on ‘Drug Free Uttarakhand – Drug Free India’ chaired by Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan at the Sachivalaya auditorium, the impactful work of Sajag India under the leadership of Lalit Joshi emerged as a key highlight.
The workshop brought together representatives from educational and technical institutions, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, colleges, and youth training centres to deliberate on strengthening the state’s anti-drug movement.
Sajag India’s Decade of Grassroots Engagement
During the deliberations, Sajag India’s sustained efforts over the past decade were widely appreciated. Under the leadership of Shri Lalit Joshi, the organisation has directly interacted with nearly five lakh students across more than 1,000 educational institutions in Uttarakhand. These large-scale youth engagement initiatives have been aligned with the vision of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to build a drug-free and progressive state.
Through its flagship Yuva Samvad Programmes, the Sajag India team regularly visits schools and colleges to create awareness about the harmful effects of drug addiction. The initiative focuses not only on prevention but also on encouraging constructive alternatives, stress management, and positive life choices among young people.
Call for Institutional Mechanisms in Schools
Addressing the gathering, Shri Lalit Joshi strongly advocated for systemic measures to curb drug abuse at the grassroots level. He proposed that every school must establish a mandatory Anti-Drug Committee comprising 8–10 volunteers. He further recommended that schools and colleges should appoint psychologists and counsellors to provide regular guidance to students, helping them cope with stress and avoid falling into addiction.
He emphasized that early intervention, counselling, and continuous engagement are crucial in safeguarding youth from substance abuse.
Collective Responsibility for a Drug-Free State
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan underlined that the goal of a drug-free Uttarakhand cannot be achieved by government efforts alone. He stressed the importance of collective participation by society, educational institutions, parents, and civil organisations.
Echoing this sentiment, Shri Lalit Joshi stated that the fight against drug addiction is the responsibility of every citizen. He called upon families to maintain open communication with their children and remain vigilant about their activities.
Coordination and Awareness Campaign
Shri Joshi also stressed the need for coordination between educational institutions and the Uttarakhand Police and Special Task Force (STF) to monitor hostels and PG accommodations, preventing youth from falling prey to addiction networks.
Concerns were also raised during the workshop about the negative influence of objectionable content on OTT platforms and social media, with participants calling for greater awareness and responsible engagement.
At the conclusion of the workshop, Sajag India announced that it will soon launch a state-level awareness campaign to further strengthen the anti-drug movement and create a safe and healthy environment for the next generation.
The workshop was attended by Inspector General of Police Nilesh Anand Bharne, Special Secretary Nivideta Kukreti, Dehradun District Magistrate Savin Bansal, Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Dobal, along with other senior officials and representatives of civil society.