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Hindustan Times
11 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Yoga Yukt, Nasha Mukt Haryana: HSNCB launches DIY initiative to fight drug abuse
Do-it-yourself (DIY)! That's the latest mantra from the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau (HSNCB) under the ADII Yoga — Anti-Drug Initiation in Yoga — programme launched on Wednesday to encourage individuals, particularly the youth, to lead a drug-free life. The HSNCB module in the run-up to International Yoga Day on June 21 is a minimalist, no-frills intervention that requires only 20 minutes, three times a week. Backed by the Union government's Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, the campaign's catch phrase in Hindi is:'Saptah mein teen din, jio jeevan drug bin (Three days a week, live a drug-free life).' The move comes at a time when the youth are increasingly vulnerable to stress, peer pressure, and addictive behaviours. The HSNCB approach empowers not with warnings, but with tools for wellness. 'The initiative is part of a growing national effort to blend ancient wellness practices with modern behavioural health strategies,' HSNCB chief and DGP OP Singh said. The HSNCB is inviting people to post their yoga photos and videos on X with the hashtag #YogaYuktNashaMukt and tag @hsncb. The top 100 participants will receive a free yoga mat as encouragement. Sustainable, flexible approach According to the HSNCB chief, the ADII Yoga programme stems from the growing body of research linking stress reduction and enhanced self-regulation with a decline in substance use. He said a 2023 Lancet psychiatry study highlighted yoga's ability to ease stress, while Frontiers in Psychology (2024) found that just three weekly sessions significantly boost mental resilience. 'We wanted a sustainable and practical approach. ADII Yoga is easy to follow, requires no supervision, and fits into anyone's schedule – a student or working professional alike,' the HSNCB official said at the launch. Take the pledge The HSNCB is encouraging Haryana residents to join local government yoga camps on June 21 and begin their ADII Yoga journey with a message: 'Yoga zaroor karo, drugs ko dur karo (Embrace yoga, keep drugs at bay).' DGP Singh expressed optimism that ADII Yoga would serve as more than just a fitness habit. 'It aims to become a preventive movement, rooting strength, discipline, and mindfulness into the lives of thousands,' he said. ADII Yoga Module The HSNCB said that the module has been designed with dropout prevention in mind. Who can do it? Anyone, though it's particularly recommended for teenagers and young adults. How often? Three days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), 20 minutes per session. Where? At home, in schools, or outdoors, anywhere with a clean, flat surface. All you need is a yoga mat, towel, or blanket. No teacher necessary — just follow YouTube tutorials, yoga apps, or a friend. Set reminders. Stick to a time. Get support from Prahari Clubs, peers, or family. Feeling pressured by substance use? The MANAS helpline (1933) is just a call away. Step-by-step breakdown Warm-up (three minutes) Exercises: Neck and shoulder rolls, side stretches to prepare the body, relieve physical tension. Core asanas (poses) (15 minutes) Tadasana (Mountain pose): Builds inner strength and focus. Vrikshasana (Tree pose): Enhances balance and emotional control. Balasana (Child's pose): Soothes the nervous system, reduces anxiety. Each session rotates the pose order to keep practice engaging and dynamic. Sankalp or affirmation (two minutes): 'I'm strong, my mind is clear, I choose a drug-free life.' This reinforces intent, boosts self-belief. Why it works Just 3 poses. 20 minutes. 3 times a week. Scientifically proven: Reduces stress and drug cravings within 4-6 weeks. Fully DIY: No classes, no fee, no barriers.
The Print
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
From a PMO ‘rejected' catering bill to a ‘stranded' home minister: Ex-UP DGP shares snippets in book
The top officer retired in January 2020 from the post of Uttar Pradesh director general of police (DGP) after heading the CISF and the NDRF at the Centre. Last year, he came out with his memoir — 'Crime, Grime and Gumption: Case files of an IPS officer'. The 1983-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer has come out with a compilation of his 'mosaic of experiences' gathered during 37 years of his career — 'Through My Eyes: Sketches from A Cop's Notebook'. New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) A caterer, who fed a prime minister's entourage in a mofussil town in the early 80s, being denied a Rs 7,000 bill due to mention of chicken in the menu and the administration forgetting to receive a home minister at the railway station on a wintery morning are some of the anecdotes shared in a book written by former Uttar Pradesh DGP O P Singh on his policing experiences. The latest book, in Singh's words, is 'not merely a recounting of events but a mosaic of narratives, each woven with the depth and nuances of storytelling'. 'This book is a collection of such moments — anecdotes from my life, spanning from my childhood to my years in the police service,' he writes in the author's note. Reading the book is like 'flipping through an old photo album', he says. Sharing an incident from the summer of 1985, Singh, then a newly minted IPS officer-under-training in Moradabad district, recounts the day when he along with the city magistrate and DSP went to a restaurant near the railway station for a cup of tea. A man stood before them with 'hands folded in greeting, head slightly bowed, his expression a mix of deference and desperation'. The city magistrate dismissed him 'with a quick flick of his eyes' and said 'not now'. A 'curious' Singh sought to know who he was? 'The man, as it turned out, was a caterer by profession. Years ago, when Chaudhary Charan Singh was Prime Minister, he had been tasked with providing food for the PM's entourage during a visit to this district. 'As part of the grand arrangements made by the district administration, he had diligently prepared and served meals to a host of officials, guests and staff,' Singh writes. He submitted a 'modest' bill of Rs 7,000 after the visit and mentioned 'chicken' among the delicacies served. 'What followed was a textbook case of bureaucratic ping-pong. The bill, innocuous as it seemed, began its long and winding journey through the labyrinth of government officers, file upon file, desk upon desk, the poor carter's bill travelled far and wide, gathering signatures, queries, objections and eventually dust.' 'Years passed and the bill's odyssey finally ended in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) where it awaited the ultimate stamp of approval,' Singh writes. The PMO passed the final order: 'The Prime Minister does not eat chicken. Payment denied.' His money, Singh says, it seemed, had been 'devoured- not by the diners, but by the system'. The city magistrate ended the story saying 'The poor fellow has been chasing that payment ever since.' 'Whenever we see him coming, we know it is chicken bill time,' he said. Singh wonders at the 'absurdity' of this incident saying the caterer's story was 'a masterclass in the peculiar ways of bureaucracy, where logic often took a backseat to red tape'. In 1986, Singh was posted as the Circle Officer (CO) of Mughalsarai in Varanasi district and was doubling up as 'CO VIP' on a particular day. The then Uttar Pradesh home minister Gopi Nath Dixit reached the temple town on a scheduled tour onboard an early morning train but 'surprisingly', Singh found out that there was 'no sign' of the VIP car or the protocol magistrate to welcome and escort the minister. He alone received the minister and drove him in his Gypsy with his (Singh's) gunner climbing into the back. 'This was the home minister of Uttar Pradesh, a cabinet-rank minister- a man of stature and significance- and yet, here we were, with no arrangements in place to honour his position.' 'The chill of the morning air felt heavier now, pressing on my sense of responsibility,' the retired IPS officer recounts. The 'worst' was yet to come, he adds. The VIP suite at the Circuit House, reserved for the minister, was locked and this was 'nothing short of an administrative debacle'. The caretaker was quickly located by a sentry and a traffic constable on duty and the suite was 'hurriedly' opened. Soon after, the minister's PA reached the guest house and dialled some of those who mattered in the district. In no time, the Divisional Commissioner, DIG, District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police descended upon the Circuit House as the assistant 'unleashed a torrent of reprimands'. The book, written in a short story format across 42 chapters, mentions some moving incidents involving Singh's police career including a case of 'honour killing' where a man killed his daughter in 'cold blood' and buried her body in the courtyard and the 'tension' in Kasganj district when a Dalit decided to take this wedding procession through areas dominated by the upper caste. The author also shares a 'softer side' of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a chapter named after him, when he 'offered' him the services of the state helicopter for conducting field visits across the large central Indian state. PTI NES ZMN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
From a PMO 'rejected' catering bill to a 'stranded' home minister: Ex-UP DGP shares snippets in book
New Delhi, A caterer, who fed a prime minister's entourage in a mofussil town in the early 80s, being denied a ₹7,000 bill due to mention of chicken in the menu and the administration forgetting to receive a home minister at the railway station on a wintery morning are some of the anecdotes shared in a book written by former Uttar Pradesh DGP O P Singh on his policing experiences. The 1983-batch Indian Police Service officer has come out with a compilation of his "mosaic of experiences" gathered during 37 years of his career "Through My Eyes: Sketches from A Cop's Notebook". The top officer retired in January 2020 from the post of Uttar Pradesh director general of police after heading the CISF and the NDRF at the Centre. Last year, he came out with his memoir "Crime, Grime and Gumption: Case files of an IPS officer". The latest book, in Singh's words, is "not merely a recounting of events but a mosaic of narratives, each woven with the depth and nuances of storytelling". "This book is a collection of such moments anecdotes from my life, spanning from my childhood to my years in the police service," he writes in the author's note. Reading the book is like "flipping through an old photo album", he says. Sharing an incident from the summer of 1985, Singh, then a newly minted IPS officer-under-training in Moradabad district, recounts the day when he along with the city magistrate and DSP went to a restaurant near the railway station for a cup of tea. A man stood before them with "hands folded in greeting, head slightly bowed, his expression a mix of deference and desperation". The city magistrate dismissed him "with a quick flick of his eyes" and said "not now". A "curious" Singh sought to know who he was? "The man, as it turned out, was a caterer by profession. Years ago, when Chaudhary Charan Singh was Prime Minister, he had been tasked with providing food for the PM's entourage during a visit to this district. "As part of the grand arrangements made by the district administration, he had diligently prepared and served meals to a host of officials, guests and staff," Singh writes. He submitted a "modest" bill of ₹7,000 after the visit and mentioned "chicken" among the delicacies served. "What followed was a textbook case of bureaucratic ping-pong. The bill, innocuous as it seemed, began its long and winding journey through the labyrinth of government officers, file upon file, desk upon desk, the poor carter's bill travelled far and wide, gathering signatures, queries, objections and eventually dust." "Years passed and the bill's odyssey finally ended in the Prime Minister's Office where it awaited the ultimate stamp of approval," Singh writes. The PMO passed the final order: "The Prime Minister does not eat chicken. Payment denied." His money, Singh says, it seemed, had been "devoured- not by the diners, but by the system". The city magistrate ended the story saying "The poor fellow has been chasing that payment ever since." "Whenever we see him coming, we know it is chicken bill time," he said. Singh wonders at the "absurdity" of this incident saying the caterer's story was "a masterclass in the peculiar ways of bureaucracy, where logic often took a backseat to red tape". In 1986, Singh was posted as the Circle Officer of Mughalsarai in Varanasi district and was doubling up as "CO VIP" on a particular day. The then Uttar Pradesh home minister Gopi Nath Dixit reached the temple town on a scheduled tour onboard an early morning train but "surprisingly", Singh found out that there was "no sign" of the VIP car or the protocol magistrate to welcome and escort the minister. He alone received the minister and drove him in his Gypsy with his gunner climbing into the back. "This was the home minister of Uttar Pradesh, a cabinet-rank minister- a man of stature and significance- and yet, here we were, with no arrangements in place to honour his position." "The chill of the morning air felt heavier now, pressing on my sense of responsibility," the retired IPS officer recounts. The "worst" was yet to come, he adds. The VIP suite at the Circuit House, reserved for the minister, was locked and this was "nothing short of an administrative debacle". The caretaker was quickly located by a sentry and a traffic constable on duty and the suite was "hurriedly" opened. Soon after, the minister's PA reached the guest house and dialled some of those who mattered in the district. In no time, the Divisional Commissioner, DIG, District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police descended upon the Circuit House as the assistant "unleashed a torrent of reprimands". The book, written in a short story format across 42 chapters, mentions some moving incidents involving Singh's police career including a case of "honour killing" where a man killed his daughter in "cold blood" and buried her body in the courtyard and the "tension" in Kasganj district when a Dalit decided to take this wedding procession through areas dominated by the upper caste. The author also shares a "softer side" of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a chapter named after him, when he "offered" him the services of the state helicopter for conducting field visits across the large central Indian state. PTI NES ZMN
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Stop welfare benefits to repeat drug traffickers: Narcotics control bureau
Proposed move comes four days after CM Nayab Singh Saini directed officials to draft a plan barring family members of repeat offenders, gangsters, from availing government benefits. Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau (HSNCB) on Saturday urged the state government to withdraw all welfare scheme benefits from 860 identified habitual drug traffickers who are facing three or more cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the past 10 years. This recommendation, sent to the chief secretary on Saturday, is part of a multi-pronged strategy against drug menace currently being implemented by the bureau in coordination with the Haryana Police. Of the 860 identified traffickers, about 720 are out of jail at present. According to the HSNCB, the proposed action will not only strengthen the state's fight against drug abuse but also send a strong message of accountability and zero tolerance. The proposed move comes just four days after chief minister Nayab Singh Saini directed officials to draft a plan barring the family members of repeat offenders, gangsters involved in murder, and other heinous crimes, and those booked under the POCSO Act from availing government benefits. Expressing concern over the recurring nature of such crimes on May 20 in a meeting on law and order, the chief minister stressed the need for stringent measures to deter offenders. 'The battle against drugs cannot be won by the police alone. We need the public's support to identify and isolate those who poison our society,' said director general of police (DGP-HSNCB) OP Singh. 'The proposal to revoke welfare benefits aims to drive home the seriousness of the issue and discourage others from entering the drug trade. The government's welfare schemes are meant for those in need, and not for those who profit from spreading addiction and crime.' Describing these identified habitual drug offenders as 'enemies of society', the HSNCB has asked the government that 'it is essential' that the state's resources are not 'extended to support their lifestyles while they continue to engage in activities that destroy lives.' The HSNCB has stated that the exercise for identification, verification, and exclusion of these 860 individuals from beneficiary lists should be started and that necessary instructions be issued to concerned departments to examine the legal framework for implementing this proposal. The HSNCB has said that these identified individuals have continued to engage in drug trafficking despite repeated arrests and legal action. 'Their activities pose a grave threat to the future of our youth and the social fabric of our communities,' reads the HSNCB letter. Recently, the bureau had circulated to all field units a 'live, dynamic list of 860 high-profile drug smugglers' accompanied by strict orders for targeted enforcement. Orders were issued to detain repeat offenders under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act that allows preventive detention of up to one year without trial. Meanwhile, on Saturday while recommending that the benefits of all government welfare schemes be discontinued for these offenders, the HSNCB said: 'This step would serve as an additional layer of deterrence, reinforcing the message that repeated engagement in narcotic activities will result in severe social, legal, and financial consequences.' A senior official of the bureau said that this recommendation is one of several aggressive steps the Haryana Police have started to curb drug trafficking and protect the future of the state's youth. In the last three years, 87 high-profile traffickers have been detained for a year under the preventive detention provision of the PIT-NDPS Act, a law reserved for the most persistent offenders. As per HSNCB records, the authorities have also attached properties worth more than ₹55 crore belonging to over 100 known traffickers. 'These assets, often amassed through illegal drug profits, are being seized as part of a focused financial crackdown,' the official said, pointing out that illegal encroachments linked to drug traffickers are being identified and swiftly removed. 'The aim is to strip them not just of money, but of influence and physical territory as well. These individuals are enemies of society. They deserve no mercy,' said an official from the Bureau, emphasising the department's zero-tolerance approach.
Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Indian Express
Haryana Police move to bar drug traffickers from government welfare benefits
In a move to break the backbone of drug trafficking in the state, O P Singh, Director General of Police (DGP), Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau (HSNCB), has written to Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, requesting that 860 identified habitual drug traffickers be stripped of all benefits under government welfare schemes. These individuals, each with three or more registered cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act over the past decade, are being targeted as part of a broader strategy to create a multi-layered deterrent against the drug trade. 'The time has come to send a strong message—those who destroy our youth for personal profit cannot enjoy the same benefits as law-abiding citizens,' DGP Singh said. 'This recommendation is one of several aggressive steps the Haryana Police has initiated to curb drug trafficking and protect the future of the state's youth,' a HSNCB official said. 'Over the past three years, 87 high-profile traffickers have been detained for a year under the preventive detention provision of the PIT-NDPS Act, a law reserved for the most persistent offenders. In parallel, authorities have attached properties worth more than Rs 55 crore belonging to over 100 known traffickers. These assets, often amassed through illegal drug profits, are being seized as part of a focused financial crackdown. Furthermore, illegal encroachments linked to drug traffickers are being identified and swiftly removed. The aim is to strip them not just of money, but of influence and physical territory as well,' the official added. 'History sheets of habitual offenders are being reopened to ensure continuous surveillance. Police are closely monitoring bail conditions, ensuring they are strictly enforced to prevent repeat offenses. Special efforts are being made to expedite the trial process, so justice is not delayed or diluted. These individuals are enemies of society. They deserve no mercy,' the Bureau official said. The authorities have also called on the public to become active partners in the fight against drugs. 'Citizens can report drug-related activities by calling 1933 or through the MANAS portal. The identity of informants will be kept strictly confidential. The battle against drugs cannot be won by the police alone. We need the public's support to identify and isolate those who poison our society,' DGP Singh said 'As Haryana intensifies its war on narcotics, the message is clear: drug traffickers will face consequences on every front—legal, financial, and social. The decision to revoke welfare benefits aims to drive home the seriousness of the issue and discourage others from entering the drug trade,' he added. 'In a state deeply concerned about the well-being and future of its youth, this bold move is expected to resonate with families and communities in Haryana and neighbouring areas. The government's welfare schemes are meant for those in need, not those who profit from spreading addiction and crime,' he further said. DGP Singh said the Haryana Police were committed to dismantling the drug network and safeguarding the next generation. 'The appeal is simple: if you see something, say something—because silence only empowers the criminals and anti-social elements,' he added.
