Open House: What steps should the state govt take to combat rampant drug abuse in the state?

Awareness among youths need of hour

Awareness drives and campaigns must be initiated against drugs and its negative impacts. The state government should devise a mechanism through which unemployed youths are provided with jobs. Technical education should be given to youngsters so that they are capable of getting a job and start earning. Though negative impacts of drugs are repeatedly highlighted in various campaigns, a lot needs to be done to prevent youths from indulging in such practice. The need of hour is to motivate youths to adopt healthy lifestyle and consume balanced diet for a better physical and mental health. To safeguard the future interestsof Punjab and to bring back the past glory of Punjabis, it is necessary to educate youths to shun drugs and adopt the old traditional culture and foods.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

Steps must be taken to check drug trade

Drug abuse and illicit trafficking is going on for the last many decades. The day may be observed every year but it will not affect the public much at large. Even if in a country like Singapore where drug traffickers are executed, the problem still persists there. Unfortunately, even the police are indulged in such works. Decades ago, may be in early seventies, FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) of the US demolished the hideouts of drug lords in what was called the Golden Traingle — in the borderlands of Burma, now called Myanmar, Laos and Thailand. Those drug lords then shifted to the borderlands of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, now called Golden Crescent. Though it’s good that the UNO has started observing International Day Against Drug Abuse on June 26, it might not see the light of the day. The state government and the Punjab Police have to take some strict measures to stop all these malwares. The youths of the country, in schools, colleges and elsewhere, should be appraised of the harmful effects of the drugs and wean them away from the same menace.

Dr JS Wadhwa

Politician-police nexus needs to be broken

The menace of drug abuse and illicit trafficking has assumed alarming proportions in Punjab. It has far-reaching physical, psychological, economic and social repercussions such as broken ties, distortion of interpersonal relationships, alienation, road accidents, organised crime, social vices, corruption and narco-terrorism. The younger generation is the worst-affected as peddlers target school and college students who are prone to suffer from depression due to studies and work burden, peer pressure, poor performance, failure in exams, unemployment and so on. Despite frequent seizures of drugs, busting of drug rackets and arrests of notorious smugglers by the Punjab Police under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985, the government has failed to tackle the problem, courtesy official apathy, lack of political will and commitment, and the existence of a powerful politician-police-mafia nexus. We observe International Day Against Drugs and Illicit Trafficking every year on June 26 as a mere ritual. The fight against drug use should be a collective effort by the government, addicts and their families, social and religious organisations, physicians and psychologists. The government should ensure strict implementation of anti-drug abuse laws and initiate penal action against peddlers as well as politically-connected crafty dealers, distributors and their patrons involved in this thriving lucrative business. Education curriculum should include chapters on drug abuse to sensitise students about its ill-effects. We should establish quality de-addiction centres for addicts. All sections of society are enjoined to cooperate with the enforcement agencies to root out this evil and make the state safer from drugs, organised crime, corruption and terrorism.

DS Kang

Analyse demand and supply of drugs

As the world is observing International Day Against Drug Abuse and illicit Trafficking on June 26, the occasion should be solemnised in having a fresh and thorough relook at the ongoing crusade against the menace of drugs especially in our state. In brief, there are two perspectives of the problem, first is demand of drugs and second is the availability of drugs. Both need to be studied and analysed properly to review the existing strategy and contemplate new efficacious measures for total eradication of the menace. Demand side consists of three channels; first is home, second is educational institutions and third is society in general. All three channels are required to be activated in coordination with each other to make our children and adolescents fully aware about the use of drugs by making mental and emotional rapport with them. We must stop treating our children as machines for the achievement of unrealistic and pre-conceived targets set by their parents and society. Supply side consists of total abolition of all existing channels of drugs availability. For this task, comprehensive and flawless laws and rules are required and more significantly their strict implementation through specialised force and fast-tracked judicial mechanism.

Jagdish Chander

Strict vigil at IB must to check smuggling

The problem of drug addiction persists across the world. People consume drugs to get rid of stress. Mental illness and drugs go hand in hand. To ease the pain, anxiety, depression and traumatic stress, people often go for drugs. They fail to deal with the pressure and make their life more stressful. Teens are indulging into practice because of peer pressure and sometimes broken homes and no support from parents. Ultimately their life is spoiled and once they get addicted to drugs, it becomes difficult to get rid of them. Family support is must for students to not get deviated and always chose the right path in their lives. They must also be taught to act responsibly in case their friends get involved in bad practices. The main concern is where there is demand, there is an ample supply. The government should strictly put brakes on supply. International coordination and cooperation is also must and strict vigil should be maintained at the borders. There should be programmes, short films for the prevention of drug abuse. Seminars and debates should be organised at schools. Youths should avoid going to places, where drugs are available, be in the company of good friends and must know how to resist temptation, develop the habit of listening to good music and other constructive hobbies.

Shashi Kiran

Cops must work sans political interference

It is disheartening that illicit drug trade has long been proliferating right under the nose of authorities in Punjab. Opium-based drugs such as heroin, poppy husk, cannabis and pharmaceutical sedatives have wrecked many lives from every section of society, irrespective of their social status and income. Rampant drug abuse causes many psycho-physical and socio-economical problems. The current state government has realised the seriousness of the situation and launched a massive drive against the menace. It has dismissed or suspended some police officials allegedly involved in the murky business. The police crackdown on drug peddlers has also forced many a drug addicts to visit de-addiction centres. But without showing zero tolerance to this scourge, it is not possible to stem the rot. As we observe International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26, we need to pledge to adopt a comprehensive approach. The government should break the strong politician-drug mafia nexus and take strict action against the big fish. It should also ensure that the police force works without any political interference and does not overstep its authority. In its crusade against drugs, the government should increase vigilance near schools and colleges and on the borders with Pakistan. It should rope in NGOs to spread mass awareness, open more rehabilitation centres and cancel the licenses of chemists selling synthetic drugs. The authorities can save the precious Punjabi youth from further damage by creating more opportunities for higher education and employment.

Elaahi Kang

Observe zero tolerance towards criminals

The whole world is facing the menace of drugs and illicit trafficking. Once viewed largely as a social and criminal problem, has transformed in recent years into a major threat to the health and security of people and regions. Thus, sensing the adverse fallout of illicit drugs on physique and mental equilibrium of humans across the world, June 26 is observed as International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The aim is obviously to create awareness against the rise in addiction cases and the urgent need to curb rampant trade of harmful drugs. In our country, the problem of illicit drugs has reached alarming dimensions in some areas. Confronting with several other issues, the border state of Punjab is worst affected where mafias and gangs are found grossly involved in this illegal activity. Strikingly, the new AAP dispensation of Punjab has avowed to eradicate this curse, which has ruined the economy and hegemony of state beyond all proportions. As foremost priority, the government has initiated some steps against unscrupulous elements to check fleecing of state exchequer under a nexus with some politicians and department officials. In some cases, the culprits have recently been booked in heinous offences committed, propelling stern action and even jails. While the state has determined to eradicate toxic drugs from its soil under a definite action plan, it must come out with a vibrant excise policy to combat infamous liquor trade as well. Observing zero tolerance against criminals resorting to nefarious activities, a vigorous awareness drive be launched to educate rural people and youth at grassroots level about the harmful impact of toxic drugs on health and social life. To fillip up this campaign, short duration audio/video clips, periodic seminars and declamation contests in schools/colleges on such illegal activities and its disastrous effects on our society need to be arranged. Simultaneously, establishment of more rehabilitation centres to treat addicts is ardently required. The task is stupendous, but concerted efforts coupled with decisive action against anti-social elements/mafias indulging in illegal drug trade and illicit trafficking will certainly usher in a new era of growth and prosperity in the state.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Catch the big fish to curb this menace

Punjab has been battling with the problem of drug addiction for a long time. Sadly, every year, it fails to win as its youngsters continue to get trapped in the deadly world of drugs, which is also the root cause of several other concerns. Untill the big fish are caught, the source from which drugs arrive in the state, we will continue to lose. Due to their political connections, as everyone views, they go on running their businesses, which usually has a long chain. Just catching the small fish can’t help much. Only going to the root of the problem can help address the concern, for which the government at all levels will have to play a bold role. To prevent the youngsters from heading towards drugs, educational institutes can start special periods or sessions, which should also be made common in residential areas. Those who got trapped in drugs and then left them can be introduced through those sessions, which can go a long way to show the right path to many. Parents should also play a supportive role while upbringing their kids, especially by helping them discover their hidden talents. Talent alone becomes a big pillar in life, which can prevent them from taking any dark path. This has also been proved by several research studies.

Rameshinder Singh Sandhu

QUESTION

The recent spell of rain has once again exposed the lack of preparedness of the civic body and negligence on the part of Municipal Corporation officials to tackle the waterlogging problem in the city ahead of the monsoon season. What steps should be taken by the MC to tackle the problem?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to jalandhardesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (June 30)