Retired Soldiers to Conduct Anti-Drug Awareness Programmes in Shimla Schools

Shimla, August 29, 2026: Retired Army personnel will soon engage with school students across Shimla district as part of a special awareness campaign aimed at preventing drug abuse and promoting discipline and a positive lifestyle among young people.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the District ANCORD Committee held through video conferencing on Saturday under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap. The meeting reviewed ongoing anti-drug awareness campaigns in the district, efforts to shift vulnerable panchayats from the red zone to the yellow zone, and initiatives being undertaken by various departments.

Kashyap directed officials to ensure that anti-drug campaigns were not confined to meetings but were implemented effectively at the grassroots level. He said the active participation of concerned officials must be ensured in awareness programmes organised in schools, panchayats and other vulnerable areas. He warned that strict action would be taken against officials who failed to participate in such field-level programmes.

The Deputy Commissioner said bringing the district’s 19 vulnerable panchayats from the red zone to the yellow zone was a priority for the administration. He directed concerned departments to work in coordination and prepare a concrete action plan and framework for effective implementation.

Officials were also asked to organise regular activities at the panchayat level to identify sources of drugs, address cases related to the illegal drug trade and create awareness among young people.

Kashyap said the administration would involve retired Army personnel and former military officers in awareness programmes in schools to educate students about the harmful effects of drugs and encourage discipline.

He said retired soldiers, having spent years serving in an environment that emphasises discipline, responsibility and resilience in challenging circumstances, could inspire students by sharing their personal experiences.

A district-level list of retired Army officers and soldiers has already been prepared, and all those included in the list have agreed to participate in awareness programmes among students. The list will be provided to all schools in the district and will contain the contact details and addresses of the retired personnel.

School principals will be able to invite any retired soldier or military officer from the list to their schools to conduct awareness sessions. The programmes will encourage students to stay away from drugs, develop discipline, set goals, face challenges with determination and cultivate a positive outlook towards life.

Kashyap said sharing the experiences of retired soldiers with students could prove to be an effective initiative. He added that the message against drug abuse could reach families and the wider community through the students.

The Deputy Commissioner also appreciated the police department’s action against drug-related activities in the district. He said property worth approximately Rs 8 crore had so far been seized during action against drug-related offences.

According to the administration, 556 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act in the district this year. Kashyap directed officials to complement legal action with greater emphasis on drug-prevention, rehabilitation and awareness activities.

He instructed officials to hold regular meetings on drug prevention and strengthen coordination among departments to make the campaign more effective. He stressed that police action alone was not sufficient to address the problem and called for the collective participation of the administration, Education Department, panchayat representatives, social organisations, parents and the general public.

Kashyap also directed officials to take the anti-drug awareness campaign to the grassroots and make effective efforts to engage young people in sports, education, creative activities and healthy, positive lifestyles.

Additional District Magistrate (Law and Order) Pankaj Sharma, Additional District Magistrate (Protocol) Gyan Sagar Negi, Additional Superintendent of Police Gaurav Jeet Singh, Additional Superintendent of Police Amit Thakur, along with all Sub-Divisional Magistrates (Civil), Block Development Officers, Tehsildars and other concerned officials of the district, attended the meeting through video conferencing.