Haryana’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is launching the ‘Hriday Parivartan Abhiyan’ (Heart Change Campaign) to reform drug peddlers and consumers. Offenders will publicly renounce drugs by putting salt in a pot before village communities and pandits in a symbolic ceremony. The initiative aims to bring about behavioral change, emphasizing the damage drugs cause to individuals, families, and communities.
Haryana Additional Director General of Police O P Singh stated that identified drug offenders would face their communities, elders, and a pandit. They will be educated about the harms of drug use, the government’s support schemes for alternative livelihoods, and the consequences of legal action. The ceremony, conducted by a pandit, involves a symbolic renunciation of drugs through salt in a pot, followed by an oath before village deities and the community.The program extends beyond anti-drug strategy, serving as a socio-cultural campaign to heal and rebuild communities. The police teams collaborate with village communities to implement the initiative, emphasizing its role in fostering lasting solutions.In 2023, NCB, in coordination with Haryana’s law enforcement, apprehended over 3,500 drug traffickers in the first 11 months. Notably, 90% of these arrests involved small-scale suppliers, often pushed into the trade by poverty or addiction.Recognizing the need for sustainable solutions, ADGP Singh emphasized the program’s focus on small-scale suppliers. The initiative offers an alternative path out of the illegal drug trade, providing opportunities for dignity and legal employment. The ‘Hriday Parivartan Abhiyan’ reflects a holistic approach, addressing the societal, economic, and cultural aspects of drug-related issues in Haryana.
