In K'shetra, families involved in drug peddling to be given skill training

In a one-of-a-kind initiative, the police and the district administration have come out with a plan to help the families involved in drug peddling earn a livelihood by way of self-help groups.

The police have identified nearly 10 families based at Shorgir Basti, in which the adults, including women, were actively selling narcotics. The police said continuous raids were conducted, and action was taken against the peddlers.

It was also decided to give them an opportunity to earn a livelihood by giving them skill training and making them self-employed. To motivate the women of these families, a meeting with officials of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) was arranged, and nearly 20-25 women have shown interest in forming self-help groups.

A woman from Shorgir Basti said, “It was good to see the police and administration helping us improve our financial condition by providing us with skill training. We also want a secure future for our children and keep them away from peddling and addiction.”

Subhash Mandi police post incharge Malkit Singh said, “Efforts are being made by the police to break the nexus of drug peddlers. Continuous raids were conducted in the area and it came to light that nearly 10 such families are actively involved in drug peddling. Following directions from SP Varun Singla, counselling was undertaken and the women claimed that due to their poor financial condition and lack of skills, the families got engaged in peddling. Efforts are being made to form self-help groups, and train them.”

The District Programme Manager, NRLM, Naresh Kumar, said, “The prime objective is to bring these families into mainstream. The project will be implemented through the National Urban Livelihood Mission and they will be provided benefits of government schemes. They will be given training, and we will also support them in branding, marketing and getting funds. They have been told to tell us their areas of interest. Another meeting will be held soon.”

Varun Singla said, “Along with enforcement, reformative steps are being taken by the police. A dip of around 70 to 80 per cent in peddling in the area has been observed due to continuous raids, check posts, and regular house-to-house visits of the SWAT team. The efforts have helped in discouraging the peddlers as well as buyers.”

“Such families have been identified in other areas, too. It was been decided to provide them employment opportunity through self-help groups. It is a pilot project, and after seeing the success, it will be replicated in other areas,” he added.

78 people arrested so far

The police have registered 39 cases under the NDPS Act and arrested 78 people so far this year. Of the total cases, 10 were of commercial quantity, in which 30 people were arrested. Besides these, the police attached six properties of peddlers, and three applications of bail cancellation were also applied during this period.