Capt’s move seeking help from tech giants hailed

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 17

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s approach to tech giants Mark Zuckerberg and Sunder Pichai for a campaign against drugs has won applause from residents, especially youth. They have anticipated that the technical help would prove fruitful in curbing the growing drug menace. Amarinder, through a Tweet and letters written to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sunder Pichai, have asked for technical support to help him fight the battle against drugs.

In a letter to Zuckerberg, the Chief Minister has written that the state is passing through a critical situation. Hence, the technical assistance would help them to divert their attention. He said the youth have better options and we want to show them the path to a brighter future.

“We realise that now, technology forms a large part of the youth’s lives and they are deeply influenced by what they see, hear and consume. At the same time, the internet is ripe with a lot of content about finding newer ways of addiction to substances and enables addicts to find a ready and steady supply of material,” he said.

He further stated that “as we embark on a new path of development and growth, the youth in the state remain gripped under a severe drug-abuse crisis. We have taken many steps to combat the peril and are following a policy of zero tolerance. Over the next few days, we will be announcing new measures to tackle this challenge. We have formulated a three-pronged strategy based on enforcement, de-addiction and prevention (EDP).”

Through his letter, he has also sought help and support in making the state drug-free through the use of unique products and services built by these social media platforms.

City youth Amandeep Singh said this would serve as a new platform to curb the menace.

“Hopefully Facebook and Google would provide wide approach in creating a drug-free Punjab,” he said.

A student, Sanvir Singh, said: “Since the Indian youth form a huge market for tech giants, through newer induced technologies more awareness and sensitivity would be escalated.”