CM Sukhu Announces Mandi Walkathon in Anti-Drug Push
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, responding to a young girl's question about chitta, announced a September anti-drug walkathon from Mandi and highlighted ongoing school and college awareness campaigns as part of a broader public movement against substance abuse.
Key Takeaways
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced a new anti-drug walkathon to be launched from Mandi in September 2026 .
The announcement came in response to a question from a young girl about the state government's initiatives against chitta .
The government has already conducted awareness campaigns and walkathons in schools and colleges across Himachal Pradesh.
Sukhu described the effort as a jan andolan (people's movement) aimed at involving every section of society.
The initiative builds on the national Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan framework launched in 2020 .
A young girl's sharp question about chitta — Himachal Pradesh's most notorious street drug — stopped Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in his tracks, and his answer on Monday, August 3, 2026, has set the stage for the state's next major anti-drug mobilisation.
Speaking in response to the question, Sukhu described the exchange warmly: 'नन्हीं रिपोर्टर की पैनी नज़र सरकार के कामकाज पर है' ('The little reporter has a sharp eye on the government's work'). The child had asked pointedly what his administration was doing to fight chitta — a synthetic drug, typically heroin or a heroin-methamphetamine mix, that has devastated families across Himachal Pradesh over the past decade.
What Sukhu's government has done so far
The Chief Minister said his government has already run awareness campaigns and walkathons in schools and colleges to sensitise young people to chitta's dangers. These initiatives align with the national Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, launched in 2020, which targets demand reduction through community mobilisation — a framework Indian states have increasingly adopted to supplement law-enforcement action with grassroots outreach.September's Mandi walkathon: the next move
The headline announcement: a fresh anti-drug public awareness walkathon will be launched from Mandi in September. Sukhu framed the effort not as a government programme but as a jan andolan — a people's movement — with the explicit goal of drawing 'active participation from every section of society.' Mandi, a district that sits at a geographic crossroads in the state, has previously served as a launchpad for state-level campaigns, giving the event symbolic as well as logistical weight. The Chief Minister closed by thanking the young girl from the heart — a gesture that underscored the political and human register he was aiming for: drug awareness framed not through statistics, but through a child's conscience. If September's walkathon achieves the cross-sector reach Sukhu is promising, it will test whether jan andolan rhetoric can translate into sustained community pressure on one of the hill state's most stubborn crises.Point of View
Reducing accountability pressure on the government while broadening the coalition of participants. Anchoring the September walkathon in Mandi, a symbolically resonant district, suggests the administration is building toward a visible, media-friendly milestone ahead of a period when the Congress government in Shimla needs to demonstrate delivery on social promises. The chitta crisis in Himachal Pradesh predates this government, but the optics of a child asking the CM hard questions — and the CM welcoming it — is a soft-power message about accessibility that opposition parties will watch closely.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is chitta and why is it a problem in Himachal Pradesh?
Chitta is a street-level synthetic drug, commonly heroin or a heroin-methamphetamine mixture, that has become widely abused across Himachal Pradesh, particularly among youth, over the past decade. Its low cost and availability have made it one of the state's most serious public health challenges.
What anti-drug walkathon did CM Sukhu announce?
CM Sukhu announced that a public anti-drug awareness walkathon will be launched from Mandi in September 2026, aimed at mobilising participation from every section of society against drug abuse.
What has the Himachal Pradesh government done against chitta so far?
According to CM Sukhu, the state government has organised awareness campaigns and walkathons in schools and colleges to educate young people about the harmful effects of chitta and other drugs.
What is the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan?
The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan is a national programme launched in 2020 to reduce drug demand in India through community awareness and mobilisation. Himachal Pradesh's school and college campaigns align with this framework.
Why is the walkathon starting from Mandi?
Mandi is a major district in Himachal Pradesh that has previously served as a launchpad for state-level campaigns. CM Sukhu's choice of Mandi gives the September walkathon both geographic reach and symbolic significance.
