A boost to DAPO programme

Mahesh Sharma
Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 11

A function was held at Grewal Sports Stadium, Kila Raipur, to administer oath to newly elected office-bearers of the Panchayati Raj.

The programme turned out to be a booster dose for the Drug Abuse Prevention Officer (DAPO) scheme of the Punjab Government.

Unlike earlier, when officials had to use their influence to enrol volunteers for fighting against the menace of drugs, hundreds of panches, sarpanches, block samiti members and zila parishad members came forward to get them registered as crusaders in the campaign against drug abuse.

Davinder Singh Jaggie, a panch from Fatehpur village, said all members of the village panchayat had announced to work for the eradication of drug abuse. “Unlike earlier, when a majority of residents believed that the DAPO registration was almost imposed on them, there was a voluntary reflex to fill forms on Friday,” said Jaggie.

Kuldeep Singh Saini, In-charge of the Sanjh Kendra, who had installed booths for DAPO registration at Grewal Stadium, said more than 2,500 persons visited the booth for getting themselves enrolled.

Appreciating the enthusiasm among the elected representatives from villages of the district, Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu expressed hope that the Friday’s campaign would yield better results than any of earlier movements.

“We expect encouraging results from DAPOs enrolled as all of them voluntarily come forward to join the fight against drugs,”he said.