Operation Toofan to launch community-led drug prevention drive

Operation Toofan is set to enter its second phase with a focus on decentralizing anti-drug efforts through community engagement. Starting September 28, the programme will establish Toofan Janajagratha Samithis—awareness committees operating at the local level—bringing together municipal bodies and residents' associations to coordinate collective action against substance abuse.

The committee-based structure is designed to empower residents to take an active role in drug prevention and control within their neighbourhoods. By leveraging local administrative bodies and grassroots organizations, the initiative aims to create a network of informed citizens capable of identifying risk factors and supporting those affected by addiction.

The second phase emphasizes rehabilitation alongside prevention, with committees tasked with promoting public awareness campaigns tailored to community-specific needs. Officials expect the decentralized approach to improve information dissemination and create accountability at the local level, ensuring sustained engagement beyond government interventions.

The expansion of Operation Toofan reflects growing recognition that drug prevention requires sustained community participation and localized strategies. The initiative seeks to transform substance abuse prevention from a top-down enforcement effort into a collaborative, bottom-up movement addressing root causes and supporting recovery.