Ahmedabad, November 9, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday set December 31, 2028, as the deadline for making Gujarat drug-free, urging the state not to wait for the Centre’s national target of eliminating drug abuse by December 31, 2029.
Addressing a public gathering in Ahmedabad, Shah announced that a dedicated toll-free helpline, 1033, would become operational in Gujarat from December 1. Citizens will be able to anonymously report drug sales and consumption, with their identities kept confidential. He said the state government would ensure action on information received through the helpline within three hours.
“India has to become drug-free by December 31, 2029. But Gujarat should not wait until 2029. We have to take responsibility for making Gujarat drug-free before December 31, 2028,” Shah said.
He appealed to residents to report drug-related activities in their neighbourhoods and warned those involved in the trade of strict action and imprisonment.
Shah said the Union Home Ministry and Gujarat Home Department had begun coordinated efforts to strengthen the campaign. A joint meeting held on Kali Chaudas discussed the implementation of three new criminal laws, modernisation of the Home Department and measures to make Gujarat drug-free.
Emphasising public participation, Shah said the fight against drugs required the involvement of citizens, teachers and parents. He urged teachers to watch for behavioural changes among students, including red eyes, frequent drowsiness and difficulty concentrating, and inform parents if they noticed such signs.
He also asked parents to monitor their adolescent children closely, warning that drug addiction was damaging the physical and mental health of young people and affecting their ability to think, listen, concentrate and make decisions.
Shah alleged that money generated through the drug trade was being used to promote terrorism in the country. He said the campaign must combine strict action against traffickers with rehabilitation and treatment facilities for those struggling with addiction.
Urging families not to allow social stigma to prevent them from seeking medical help, Shah said, “There is no need to feel ashamed. If someone suffers from malaria or tuberculosis, they go to a hospital for treatment. Why should treatment for drug addiction be any different? If we feel ashamed today, we may lose our children tomorrow.”
He assured families that the identities of children undergoing treatment would remain confidential and said the government was working on arrangements to help people overcome addiction.
Shah said a control room for the 1033 helpline would be established before December 1. Appealing to people across Gujarat not to remain silent spectators, he stressed that public cooperation was essential to make the campaign successful.
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