Gurdaspur Diary: GCC organises tree plantation programme

He who plants trees, plants hope. Trees have drawn our interest since time immemorial. They represent life, growth, peace and nature. With thousands of different types of trees in this world, most human societies have a strong connection to them. So does the border district of Gurdaspur. The Gurdaspur Chamber of Commerce (GCC) recently organised two tree-plantation programmes, both having SSP Harish Dayama as the chief guest. The functions were organised at Jiya Lal Mittal School and Sri Nangali School. There are other organisations too that plant saplings. In fact, there are hundreds. However, the moot question is who looks after these saplings after they are planted? And who waters them? If they are not taken care of properly, they wither away. The GCC is seized of this problem and hence has drawn up plans to carry on plantation drives in a big way in the future too. Gurdaspur Chamber of Commerce Chairman Anu Gandotra said, “In a world grappling with the problems of environmental pollution and climate change, it is imperative that we, as responsible citizens, rise to the challenge of checking the illegal felling of trees and also of pollution. Trees are sort of silent heroes trying to combat the challenges posed by environmental pollution. They are, in fact, guardians of our soil and water and also check soil erosion. It will be our endeavor to plant more and more trees in the future.” Hope the GCC remains true to its promise.

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Promoting sports to keep youth away from drugs

In Gurdaspur, the consumption of poppy husk and opium among the youth is passé. These are the days of high-quality Afghanistan-produced heroin. The dope is regularly being dropped in the agriculture fields of villages located near the border by Pakistani drones flying in from Pakistan.

Unemployed and frustrated youth have been drawn en-masse towards this drug. The cops have been trying hard to stop the drones, but are unable to do so. So, the next best thing they thought that would bring some sanity among the youth was to get them hooked off heroin and subsequently hooked on to sport. It remains debatable whether a volleyball match or a cricket contest would be able to wean youngsters away from the white-powder. Having said this, a start had to be made somewhere. Hence, a committee headed by SSP Harish Dayama thought it prudent to start cricket matches between the Village Defense Committees (VDCs). The final of this tournament was played a few days ago in the police lines. The ground and pitch were prepared to perfection as if King Vivian Richards were to play. The cops now have said they will continue holding such matches, in various games, to ensure a connection that has been established between them and the youth is not broken. After the match, the SSP delivered a pep-talk in which he asked youngsters to “say no to drugs, yes to Punjab.” He told his audience that if at all an addict goes in for rehabilitation, he should not feel shy. And if he relapses, he should try to get on to his feet again. “If you fall down seven times, stand up eight. You are not defined by your relapses but by your decision to remain in recovery despite the relapses,” he said. This is a good initiative on the part of the police but at the same time it should also focus on how to stop the spread of heroin from epicentres like Deeda Sansian village where recently three people died due to overdose. And it should also make efforts to stop the drones flying into India. (Contributed by Ravi Dhaliwal)