Himachal Pradesh Allocates Eleven Crore For Sports Campaign To Fight Chitta Menace State Wide

Shimla : In a major push to eradicate the growing menace of synthetic drugs across the state, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu chaired a high-level review meeting to roll out the flagship "Khelo Himachal-Chitta Mukt Abhiyan". The Himachal Pradesh government has allocated ₹11.56 crore to execute grassroots sports initiatives aimed at engaging youth in healthy pursuits and steering them away from substance abuse.

The comprehensive anti-drug campaign will extend across all 3,758 gram panchayats, 8 municipal corporations, 29 municipal councils, and 39 nagar panchayats. To maximize impact, the administration has earmarked 235 highly vulnerable gram panchayats for targeted, high-intensity interventions. Under this drive, structured sports tournaments in discipline-based events such as volleyball, kabaddi, and football will be organized at sub-divisional, district, and state levels, backed by cash prizes for winners and runners-up teams.

Highlighting the strategy, Chief Minister Sukhu stated that drug addiction destroys families and social structures, necessitating a multi-pronged approach combining tough law enforcement against drug networks with preventive community measures. He emphasized that sports serve as an effective instrument for social transformation by building discipline, self-confidence, and a spirit of teamwork among young citizens.

To ensure transparent execution and technical supervision during the competitions, special monitoring committees consisting of representatives from sports associations, the education department, police personnel, and youth services will oversee event operations. The Chief Minister reiterated that realizing a "Nasha-Mukt Himachal" requires collective action involving educational institutions, local panchayats, civil society groups, and government agencies working in unison at the grassroots level.