Hyderabad: Police officials on Tuesday called for stronger community participation and responsible media reporting to advance the Nasha Mukt Bharat campaign against drug abuse.
They said enforcement alone could not address the problem and stressed prevention within families, educational institutions and communities. The officials spoke at ‘VARTA’, a media workshop organised by the Press Information Bureau, Hyderabad, at Maheshwaram in Ranga Reddy district.
The workshop focused on the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, also known as the Drug Free India Campaign. Maheshwaram Zone DCP K. Narayana Reddy inaugurated the programme. EAGLE Force Superintendent of Police Ravula Giridhar also participated.
PIB Hyderabad Joint Director Dr Manas Krishnakanth and Maheshwaram MPDO N. Sharadhamma attended the inaugural programme. Narayana Reddy said drug abuse required collective participation from society rather than enforcement measures alone.
“Drug abuse cannot be tackled through enforcement alone; it requires the collective participation of society,” he said. The DCP said Telangana had specialised forces working with local police to counter drug trafficking and related threats.
He cited SID, OCTOPUS, CISL and the EAGLE Force among the specialised units involved in these efforts. However, Narayana Reddy stressed that prevention needed to begin within families, schools, colleges and communities.
He urged parents, students and peer groups to remain alert and share information with authorities at the appropriate time. Protecting young people from drugs was not merely a law-and-order priority, he said. It was also essential to safeguard their health, skills and productivity.
Narayana Reddy said initiatives such as the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan had developed into a nationwide public movement against substance abuse. He called for further support to such initiatives to advance the goal of a drug-free India.
The DCP also urged journalists to circulate verified information about drugs and their harmful effects. Moreover, he asked media organisations to promote early intervention and provide information about counselling and rehabilitation services.
EAGLE Force says 8,000 kg ganja seized
EAGLE Force SP Ravula Giridhar conducted an awareness session during the workshop. He said drug abuse had moved beyond being an individual or family issue. Instead, it had become a social, law-and-order and national-security challenge.
Therefore, he called for coordinated action involving all stakeholders. Giridhar said the EAGLE Force had seized around 8,000 kg of ganja across Telangana since January. He also said more than 30,000 police personnel and officials from other departments had received training.
According to him, authorities had conducted around 22 types of training programmes as part of capacity-building efforts. Giridhar highlighted the media’s role in preventing drug abuse and supporting rehabilitation.
He said responsible and sensitive reporting could improve public awareness, prevent stigma and encourage people to seek rehabilitation.
Nasha Mukt Bharat reporting must protect minors
Giridhar asked media professionals to maintain accuracy and sensitivity while reporting drug-related cases. He particularly stressed the need to protect the identities of minors. Journalists should also avoid unnecessary disclosure of personal information about people who used drugs, he said.
According to Giridhar, strong coordination between police and media remained important in the fight against narcotics. He also stressed informed public participation in achieving the Nasha Mukt Bharat goal.
Earlier, PIB Hyderabad Joint Director Manas Krishnakanth said drug abuse had become a serious social and security challenge. “Drug abuse is no longer merely an individual or family concern; it has emerged as a serious social, law-and-order and national-security challenge,” he said.
Krishnakanth said PIB organised the VARTA workshop to provide journalists with accurate information and responsible reporting practices. He said informed journalism could contribute meaningfully to the campaign and help prevent the spread of drug abuse.
Later, journalists interacted with speakers and sought clarifications on operational issues. They also raised questions about access to rehabilitation services and the reporting of drug-related stories.
PIB Hyderabad Media and Communication Officer Varganti Gayatri moderated the proceedings. Around 60 media representatives and local stakeholders from Maheshwaram and surrounding areas of Ranga Reddy district participated in the workshop.