Gujarat Must Become Drug-Free by 2028, Says Amit Shah

Ahmedabad: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday advanced Gujarat’s target of becoming drug-free to December 31, 2028, a year before the Centre’s nationwide deadline of December 31, 2029.

Launching a dedicated toll-free helpline, 1033, Shah called for a united campaign involving government agencies, parents, teachers and citizens, cautioning that drug addiction was ruining the younger generation while illicit proceeds were being used to fund terrorism.

Speaking at a public gathering in Ahmedabad after inaugurating several development projects, Shah announced that a modern control room connected to helpline 1033 would begin functioning in Gujarat from December 1. He said complaints related to drug trafficking and consumption would be acted upon within three hours and assured callers that their identities would be kept confidential.

Shah said the Centre had fixed December 31, 2029, as the deadline for eliminating drugs from India but maintained that Gujarat should achieve the goal earlier. “I hail from Gujarat, and so does the Prime Minister. Therefore, Gujarat need not wait until 2029. We must take the responsibility of making Gujarat drug-free before December 31, 2028,” he said, stressing that the state should lead by example.

Describing narcotics as a serious threat to the country’s future, Shah said the problem extended beyond law enforcement and posed a danger to national security. Drug addiction, he said, damaged the physical and mental health of young people, undermining their ability to think, listen, concentrate and lead productive lives. He added that proceeds from drug trafficking were being diverted to terrorist activities, making the fight against narcotics essential for national security.

“We have succeeded in making the country free from Naxalism, but we cannot sit back. Our next responsibility is to build a drug-free India by December 31, 2029,” he said.

Shah said the government could not tackle drug abuse alone and called for greater involvement from schools and families. Appealing to teachers, he urged them to remain alert to behavioural changes among students, such as persistently red eyes, drowsiness during classes and reduced concentration. He said teachers should alert parents about such symptoms and facilitate timely medical assistance.

He also cautioned parents against hiding instances of addiction because of social stigma. “There is no need to feel ashamed. If we feel ashamed today, we risk losing our children tomorrow. When someone suffers from malaria or tuberculosis, we take them to a hospital without hesitation. Why should treatment for drug addiction be any different?” he asked.

Assuring families of confidentiality for children undergoing treatment, Shah said rehabilitation facilities were being developed to support young people in overcoming addiction. He appealed to citizens to use helpline 1033 to report drug trafficking and consumption, promising stringent action against those involved.

Earlier, Shah said discussions between the Gujarat Home Department and the Union Home Department on Kali Chaudas had centred on the implementation of three new criminal laws, modernisation of the Home Department and efforts to make Gujarat drug-free.

On the development front, Shah inaugurated the 4.5-km Sarkhej-ISKCON elevated overbridge, constructed at a cost of more than Rs 450 crore. He also inaugurated a Knowledge Hub in Jodhpur and an Urban Health Centre in Gota. Additionally, he visited housing units at Ramapir no Tekro in Vadaj and handed over keys to beneficiaries of a housing scheme in Ranip following a draw.

Claiming that development projects worth approximately Rs 1,400 crore had been inaugurated or had their foundation stones laid, Shah highlighted the transformation of Ramapir no Tekro and contrasted it with the Congress’s record.

Recounting his initial years in politics, Shah said the locality had once faced disease outbreaks and lacked basic drinking water facilities. Residents, he said, had endured poor living conditions for decades without access to proper housing.

Criticising the Congress, Shah alleged that governments between 1947 and 1990 had neglected Ramapir no Tekro despite residents repeatedly voting for them. He said the BJP began gaining a foothold in the area after Jayesh Parmar became its first councillor in 1995. The housing programme introduced subsequently, Shah said, had significantly improved residents’ lives, with beneficiaries now receiving homes comparable to private apartments. DeshGujarat