Chandigarh, September 8 – Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal has directed the officials of the Health Department to conduct a survey for opening drug de-addiction centres in the state, so as to know the exact situation of how many de-addiction centers are required to be opened in which district. Besides this, the health department should also gather information about drug de-addiction centres being run by Red Cross Society or other social organizations on a single platform, directed Sh. Manohar Lal.

The Chief Minister said that today drug addiction has become a serious problem for society, which needs to be curbed immediately. The State Government is making continuous efforts to prevent drug abuse. There should not be any laxity in this work. All officers concerned should seriously perform their duties in this regard, said Sh. Manohar Lal.

The Chief Minister gave these directions during the meeting of the Managing Committee of the Indian Red Cross Society Haryana State Branch chaired by Governor; Sh. Bandaru Dattatraya, who is also the President of Indian Red Cross Society Haryana State Branch at Haryana Raj Bhavan held today.

The Chief Minister said that youth is prone to drug addiction, so all the stakeholders like Health Department, Education Department and Red Cross Society, etc. should emphasize making students aware of the ill effects of drugs and for this, a mass awareness camp should be organized in schools, colleges and universities.

For monitoring the functioning of the de-addiction centres set up in the districts, necessary directions have been given to the SDMs to visit the de-addiction centres in their respective districts at least once a month and take stock of the facilities and functioning there, informed Sh. Manohar Lal. He said that the Red Cross Society should serve society and humanity with the motto of ‘Jaha Kam - Waha Hum’

First-aid wing to be set up in district hospitals

The Chief Minister directed the officers of the Health Department that a wing should be set up in all district hospitals for imparting similar first-aid training as given by Red Cross Society.

He further directed that a portal should be developed on which the information of ambulances operated by government hospitals, private hospitals and the Red Cross or various organizations of the district should be uploaded so that people can also have the access to a single platform instead of seeking information regarding the same from different mediums. 

Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Kendras will be opened as per the requirement

Speaking on the opening of Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra to provide medicines at affordable prices to the people in the state, the Chief Minister said that the Deputy Commissioners should issue directions to the CMOs to conduct a study in their respective districts and identify the places where Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Kendras are required to be opened. After conducting this study, Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras will be opened as per the requirement.

Such Kendras should be opened especially at such places where the number of patient footfall is high so that quality medicines at affordable prices can be made available to the masses, said Sh. Manohar Lal.

Develop a portal to have real-time data about blood donation camps being organized across the state

The Chief Minister directed that a dedicated portal should be developed to have real-time data about blood donation camps being organized by Red Cross Society or other social organizations across the state. This will help the government to have compiled data about how many blood donation camps are organized in the state in a year and how many units of blood are collected.

Sh. Manohar Lal also directed the officer concerned to keep a complete record of all activities being carried out by the Red Cross Society such as TB eradication, polio campaign, malaria, drug de-addiction centres, blood donation camp, etc. on a single platform. Besides this, all this information should be uploaded on the portal by contacting organizations other than Red Cross which are engaged in organizing such activities.

Make a new plan for ensuring the care of mentally challenged persons above the age of 18 years

The Chief Minister said that at present, there is a provision to provide care to mentally challenged persons up to the age of 18 years, but till date, no such institutional arrangement has been made for such persons above the age of 18 years. Therefore possibility should be explored to make a new plan for ensuring the care of these persons as well.

“There should not be any shortage of facilities for the old people living in the old age homes run by the Red Cross Society. All the necessary arrangements should be ensured and the care of the elderly should also be ensured,” said Sh. Manohar Lal.

State government moving towards high Ease of Living index

The Chief Minister said that the State Government while moving towards high Ease of Living Index is providing benefits of all government facilities and schemes to the common man while sitting at home. The aim of the government is to make the life of the common man prosperous. Therefore, it is being ensured that the benefits of all the schemes reach those at the bottom of the pyramid in a transparent manner through online mediums.

It was decided in the meeting that the entire functioning of the ambulance operated by St. John's Ambulance organization including the drivers appointed by the organization would be handed over to the Health Department.

Take Cooperation of volunteers registered on the Samarpan Portal

The Chief Minister directed the office bearers of the Red Cross Society that the State Government has developed the Samarpan Portal for those who are willing to serve the society. About 5,000 volunteers have been registered on this portal. The Red Cross Society should take the cooperation of these volunteers in organizing their activities in the districts.

Chief Secretary, Sh. Sanjeev Kaushal, Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. D S Dhesi, Additional Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Sh. V. S. Kundu, Principal Secretary, Urban Local Bodies Department, Sh. Arun Gupta, Secretary to Governor, Sh. Atul Dwivedi, Deputy Commissioners, Director General, Health Services, Dr. Veena Singh and office bearers of Red Cross Society also remained present.