CM Sukhu Flags Off mega Anti-Chitta walkathon as Himachal begins 3-month awareness drive
Shimla, Nov 15,
Himachal Pradesh on Saturday witnessed one of its largest public mobilisation efforts against the synthetic drug ‘Chitta’, as Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu flagged off the state-level Anti-Chitta Walkathon from the iconic Ridge Maidan. The event marked the beginning of a three-month, state-wide public awareness drive aimed at converting the anti-drug campaign into a community-powered movement.
Hundreds of citizens, students, volunteers, officials, and social organisations participated in the walk from Ridge Maidan to Chaura Maidan, joined by the Governor, cabinet ministers, MLAs, senior officers, and contingents from schools and colleges. The Ridge and CTO Chowk turned into cultural arenas, with traditional Juba folk performances and musical presentations by the Himachal Police Orchestra urging people to reject narcotics and embrace a healthy lifestyle.
Administering a public oath, the Chief Minister called upon citizens to abstain from drugs, motivate families and communities to stay drug-free, and collectively build a “clean and healthy Himachal Pradesh.” Raising the slogan “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” he reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance stand, warning traffickers of stringent action. Drug trafficking in the state now attracts life imprisonment and fines up to ₹10 lakh.
Calling Chitta “an attack on the very soul of Himachal,” Sukhu announced the deployment of 100 anti-Chitta volunteers who will receive full support from the government to expand the campaign’s reach at the grassroots.
Govind Chitranta informed that volunteers and motivators from the Himachal Pradesh Gayan Vigyan Samiti and the Himachal Forum for Addiction and Drug Abuse (HFADA) joined the marathon, working closely with youth groups to dismantle stigma around addiction. “Drug dependency must be recognised as a health condition, not a social taboo,” they emphasised, urging communities to form local anti-drug units and stand with families battling the crisis.
Senior citizens and retired employees are also being enrolled to strengthen neighbourhood-level vigilance and awareness. The Gyana Vigyan Samiti brought along nearly 20 individuals who had successfully overcome addiction. They participated in the run alongside their parents and friends—symbolising recovery, hope, and reintegration. The organisers felicitated them with jackets as souvenirs to mark their courage.
With district- and subdivision-level walkathons set to follow, the state’s anti-Chitta movement now enters a decisive phase—shifting from administrative action to a people-driven social uprising against the drug menace.
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The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
