Chief Secretary Radha Raturi conducted a meeting today at the Secretariat regarding the State Level Narco Coordination Center (NCORD). During the meeting, the Chief Secretary issued strict instructions to all District Magistrates to mandatorily hold district-level NCORD meetings once a month.
The Chief Secretary sought reports on NCORD meetings from all districts and expressed severe displeasure over the failure of Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, Chamoli, and Champawat districts to organize even a single district-level NCORD meeting this year. She reprimanded the concerned District Magistrates and directed the Home Secretary to send an immediate communication regarding this matter. She also warned that future negligence of this kind would result in adverse entries in the Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) of responsible officers.
The Chief Secretary emphasized strict monitoring of the misuse of medicines as drugs in medical stores. She instructed the Director General of Health to ensure the installation of CCTV cameras in all medical stores and to digitize records. Additionally, she directed the concerned departments and District Magistrates to create separate budget provisions for de-addiction centers and establish at least one de-addiction center in each district.
Furthermore, the Chief Secretary instructed the formation of Anti-Drugs Committees in private schools, colleges, and universities, similar to those in government educational institutions. She also directed the launch of the Anti-Drug E-Pledge as a public awareness campaign. To date, 2,20,754 e-pledges have been taken in Uttarakhand, placing the state in sixth position nationwide.
The Chief Secretary suggested exploring Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with NGOs and social and cultural organizations to ensure private sector participation in making educational campuses drug-free.
During the meeting, it was reported that 1,020 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act in the state this year, with 1,298 individuals convicted.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Shailesh Bagauli, along with officials from the Police, Health, Education, and Home Departments, as well as all District Magistrates, who participated virtually.
