State to launch ‘anti-chitta’ drive from Shimla on Nov 15

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today announced that the state government will launch a decisive campaign to eradicate chitta from Himachal Pradesh. The initiative will begin with a massive ‘anti-chitta’ rally from the historic Ridge to Chaura Maidan in Shimla on November 15.

Presiding over a high-level meeting, the Chief Minister said this rally would mark the beginning of a three-month comprehensive campaign against the drug menace. “This will be a people’s movement against chitta,” he asserted, adding that MLAs, dignitaries, students and citizens from all walks of life will participate in the launch event.

Sukhu said he would personally monitor the campaign at the state level, ensuring coordination between government representatives, police, departments, volunteers and educational institutions. The focus, he said, would be equally on awareness, prevention, and strict enforcement.

The Chief Minister directed the formation of a special cell within the police department to intensify operations against the chitta mafia. Anti-chitta rallies will also be held at the district and sub-divisional levels, extending the campaign’s reach to the grassroots.

Highlighting the police department’s groundwork, Sukhu said panchayats most affected by Chitta have already been identified. Special attention will be given to these areas, while college students will be trained as anti-chitta volunteers to promote awareness.

To strengthen the local fight, the government has notified the formation of drug prevention committees at the panchayat level, each comprising seven members. These committees will hold monthly meetings, monitor drug-related activities and share reports with law enforcement agencies. They will also organise awareness drives in schools and public places, working closely with district administrations.

“The fight against chitta will be fought collectively, from the state headquarters to the remotest village,” Sukhu emphasised, calling it a decisive step toward a drug-free Himachal Pradesh.