Una, April 6: Mahendra Pal Gurjar, Commissioner of the Una Municipal Corporation, announced that a special preventive campaign will be launched in Una city to tackle the problem of drug abuse. This "Drug-Free City" campaign has been named 'Sankalp Una' (Una Pledge). This initiative marks the first such effort of its kind across the entire state. Under the ambit of this campaign, various programs addressing all aspects of prevention and intervention will be conducted. The objective of these year-long, continuous programs is to empower the residents of the municipal corporation to effectively combat the issue of drug abuse.
The Commissioner stated that every household will be engaged in this campaign to ensure that the youth are sensitized and made aware of the risks before they ever succumb to drug use. Educational institutions will serve as the most critical component of this campaign. For students currently pursuing their studies, activities will extend beyond mere awareness sessions to include structured, module-based programs.
He further explained that "Mentor Teachers" will be designated within every educational institution. Additionally, selected students will be trained as "Peer Leaders" and "Peer Counselors" to ensure that their fellow students receive appropriate guidance and support. Operating under the aegis of the Una Municipal Corporation, this campaign will involve the participation of all relevant government departments. Public participation will be ensured by constituting committees at the ward level, thereby incorporating the involvement of voluntary organizations, women's groups (Mahila Mandals), youth groups (Yuvak Mandals), and other social organizations.
This campaign will be implemented with the technical assistance of the voluntary organization 'Gunjan'. Speaking on the occasion, Pankaj Pandit, a representative of the Gunjan organization, noted that rural youth often tend to emulate urban culture. Consequently, the influence of drug-related issues frequently spreads from urban centers to rural areas. In this context, the concept of a "Drug-Free City" campaign in Una is a unique and innovative initiative, and its outcomes are expected to be highly effective.