Social Activist Kiran Bedi IPS (Retd.) today called for well knit and coordinated approach to eradicate the menace of drug abuse in Punjab by roping in the services of social and volunteer organizations besides focusing on synergy amongst Policing, Enforcement, Drug de-addiction and Rehabilitation. Bedi, who called on the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal to share her experience and expertise to curb this curse here at Kapurthala House this afternoon, apprised Mr. Badal that she had waged a war against drug abuse in Tihar Jail to reform the inmates who were habitual drug addicts. She further said that the state government alone could not get the desired results unless they involve the families of these victims for their proper counseling. Mrs. Bedi underscored the need for the concept of family counseling and said that trained family counselors should be engaged to handle such persons, with a sense of belongingness, care and respect instead of rebuking them as drug addicts.
The former IPS officer also mentioned that state government should engage the services of NGOs like Rotary, Lion Club and Inner Wheel to make this campaign far more effective and result oriented. She also emphasized the need to treat the drug addicts through alternative system of medicine like Homeopathy, Ayurveda and Unani along with the Allopathy. Lauding the initiatives taken by the Chief Minister to tackle this grave problem efficaciously, Mrs. Bedi said that the upcoming Rehabilitation Centers in all the districts of state was a revolutionary step to enable the drug addicts to lead a normal life with self respect and dignity.
She stressed on the need to equip these rehabilitation centers with the skill development facilities in the trades like electrical repair, plumbing, Information and Technology and others. Likewise, Mrs. Bedi also highlighted the significance of sports to encourage these reformed youth to take up sports so that their unbounded energy could be channelized in a constructive manner. The former IPS Officers said that all the stake holders in this crusade including state administration, Police, NGOs and Civil Society should play a proactive role to smear the blot of drug addiction from the face of Punjab.
Later on interacting with Mrs Bedi, the Chief Minister welcomed her vital inputs on drug de-addiction and rehabilitation and invited her to join the state government in this great mission. Mr. Badal informed her that it was the top most priority of the state government to save the youngsters from this menace adding that he was confident that the problem of drug abuse in the state would be wiped out forever within next one and half years. He asked his Principal Secretary Mr. SK Sandhu and Principal Secretary Health Mrs. Vinnie Mahajan to incorporate suggestions put forth by Mrs. Bedi in making the state Board on Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation and subsequent societies registered in all the districts broad based by ensuring the membership to the representatives of reputed NGOs and activists of civil society.Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Health Mrs. Vinnie Mahajan, Inspector General of Police (Narcotic Cell) Mr. Ishwar Singh, Special Secretary Health Mr. Vikas Garg and Resident Commissioner Punjab Bhawan Mr. K Siva Prasad