War on chitta: Mother’s tragedy sums up Punjab’s challenge
The Tribune Editorial: The onus is on all stakeholders to help Shinder Kaur save her grandson from the fate that has befallen her sons.
THE harrowing ordeal of Shinder Kaur, who claims to have lost all her six sons to chitta, should force the Punjab government to confront the harsh truth: its Yudh Nasheyan Virudh (war against drugs) has a long way to go. Under this ambitious campaign, which will complete one year in March, over 45,000 alleged drug smugglers have been arrested and more than 31,000 FIRs registered across the state; there have also been major seizures and large-scale admissions at de-addiction centres. However, drug overdose deaths continue to be reported, particularly in rural areas. Easy availability of drugs in villages and alleged complicity or inaction of the local police point to a well-entrenched network that has survived one crackdown after another.
The challenge for the AAP government is not only to come down harder on traffickers but also to restore public trust. According to Shinder Kaur, repeated complaints about the rampant supply of drugs in her village in Ludhiana district went in vain. This puts a big question mark over the commitment of the authorities to end the scourge. De-addiction centres, awareness campaigns and WhatsApp helplines matter, but they cannot compensate for lack of accountability. Punjab can take a cue from neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, which is also grappling with rising drug addiction. The political messaging is sharper in the hill state — debarring accused in chitta cases from contesting panchayat elections, dismissing police personnel found to be involved in the drug trade and pushing for stricter non-bailable provisions.
The onus is on all stakeholders to help Shinder Kaur save her grandson from the fate that has befallen her sons. Successive state governments have found the drug menace a tough nut to crack. The current dispensation cannot afford to take its foot off the pedal. The war on drugs needs all hands on deck, irrespective of political affiliations. Steely determination and firm action can prevent chitta from ruining many families.
