Shimla, Nov. 19 -- Social justice and empowerment minister Dr (Col) Dhani Ram Shandil on Tuesday urged youth, women, senior officers, employees and citizens of Himachal Pradesh to stay aware of the ill effects of drug abuse. He was speaking during a the state-level event to mark the completion of five years of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan during which he administered an anti-drug pledge to all participants. The campaign has been running successfully across all states of the country for the past five years, with the aim of spreading awareness among youth about the harmful effects of substance abuse. Addressing the gathering, Dr Shandil urged youth, women, senior officers, employees and citizens of Himachal Pradesh to participate actively in the collective fight against drugs. Highlighting the initiatives taken by the state government against drug abuse, he said that two important bills have been passed in the state assembly, which includes stringent provisions such as death penalty, life imprisonment, and a fine of Rs.10 lakh for drug traffickers, along with attachment of illegally acquired property. htc...