Amit Shah wants Gujarat free of drugs by the end of 2028; helpline 1033 opens 1 December

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set 31 December 2028 as the deadline for Gujarat to become free of drugs, a year before the Centre’s national target of 31 December 2029. He spoke at a public meeting in Ahmedabad on 9 November, after opening several development projects in the city.

Mr. Shah also launched a toll-free helpline, 1033, for reports of drug trafficking and drug use. A control room linked to it will start working across Gujarat on 1 December.

How the helpline will work

• Number: 1033, toll-free
• From: 1 December
• Action on complaints: within three hours
• Callers’ identities: kept confidential

What he asked for

Mr. Shah called for a joint campaign by government agencies, parents, teachers and citizens. “We must take the responsibility of making Gujarat drug-free before December 31, 2028,” he said.

He asked teachers to watch for signs of drug use among students, such as red eyes that do not clear, drowsiness in class and poor concentration. He told parents not to hide a child’s addiction out of fear of stigma, and said rehabilitation centres were being built. He also said money from the drug trade was funding terrorism.

The background

Gujarat’s long coastline has made it a landing point for drugs smuggled by sea, and its police and central agencies have made several large seizures at its ports in recent years. The State’s Home Department and the Union Home Ministry recently discussed the drug-free goal, along with the three new criminal laws and plans to modernise the Home Department, DeshGujarat reported.

What’s next

The 1033 helpline and its control room open on 1 December.