Faridabad (Haryana) [India], April 17 (HBTV): Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini flagged off the Drug-Free Haryana Cyclothon 2.0 in Faridabad on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that his government is promoting an awareness campaign against drugs through this initiative.

‘We are promoting an awareness campaign for a drug-free Haryana through this cyclothon. This is not just a cyclothon, but a revolution against drugs,’ Saini said.

He added:‘This cyclothon began on 5 April from Hisar, which, going through Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Narnaul, Rewari, and Palwal, has now reached Faridabad, and from here, it will proceed to Gurugram.’

The Cyclothon will cover every village in Haryana over the next three weeks, spreading the message of a drug-free society. The previous cyclothon spanned 25 days and saw the participation of over 1.77 lakh cyclists and more than 5.25 lakh citizens. Inspired by that achievement, Cyclothon 2.0 has been launched with renewed energy and purpose.

The Haryana government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to combat the drug menace through its State Action Plan, which is built on three pillars: public awareness, de-addiction and rehabilitation, and stringent action against drug traffickers.

A dedicated Special Task Force has also been constituted to crack down on drug smuggling. Additionally, 52 de-addiction centres have been established across Haryana, along with dedicated wards in government medical colleges and civil hospitals in 13 districts.

To support affected individuals and encourage public participation, the government has launched a toll-free helpline (90508-91508) and the Manas Portal, where citizens can confidentially report drug-related activities.

(ANI)