In a bid to launch a decisive battle against the smuggling of drugs into the state, Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today called upon the Centre to take effective measures to seal the International boarder completely as it was the responsibility of the Central government to safeguard the International borders through BSF and other Central Para-military forces, which are directly under its control.Mr. Badal was addressing a mammoth gathering here today during a function 'Volunteer for a Better India- Punjab Chapter' organized by Art of Living Foundation to aware the masses about the social maladies like drug addiction, female foeticide and excessive use of the chemicals in agriculture sector. On this occasion Sri Sri Ravi Shankar founder of Art of Living was the Chief Guest; besides Industries, Commerce and Technical Education Minister Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mrs. Navjot Kaur Sidhu and many dignitaries attended the function.
Expressing concern over the regular smuggling of huge consignments of drugs from across the boarder, Mr. Badal said that SAD-BJP government had already taken strict actions to control drug menace with in the state and seized a large quantity of drugs during its regime, but the real problem was still persisting across the boarder. He blamed that it was the Government of India (GoI) that was not taking it seriously. Mr. Badal further added that open sale of poppy husk like any other commodity in the neighboring state of Rajasthan was also imposing a great threat to Punjab. Despite his repeated requests no action had been taken by the GoI against it too, added Mr. Badal.
The Chief Minister said that social maladies like drug addiction and female foeticide had crippled our society and keeping in view the degree of affliction the state government had already launched a crusade against these woes. He said that a vigorous campaign to stamp out drug addiction had already been initiated under which five big Drug De-addiction centers across the state were being established at a cost of Rs. 25 crore, besides government had strengthen the existing net work of de-addiction centers in all respects at various district and sub-pisional hospital levels.The Chief Minister also called upon the Religious and Social organizations to work in sync with the state government to save our youth and the future of our country by enlightening them towards a happy and progressive life.
Likewise, to fulfill its moral and social obligations the state government as a law enforcement agency had geared up its official machinery for tackling the issue of female foeticide strictly and effectively across the state, said the Chief Minister. Expressing satisfaction over these efforts, Mr. Badal said that the male-female child sex ratio that had been skewed to 798 in 2001 has shown improvement by 846 in 2011. Still the government was striving hard for further improvement it, added Mr. Badal. To keep this trend of improving male-female child sex ratio and resolving gender issue forever, Mr. Badal urged the people to change their orthodox mindset and stop killing their daughters in the wombs, he added.
Reiterating the firm commitment of SAD-BJP government to create a healthy environment with equal opportunities for our daughters to grow, the Chief Minister said that state government had initiated numerous programs in this regard besides providing free quality education to all the girl students in the government schools up to 12th class. "Today girls were excelling much ahead then boys in the education sector and time will come they will prove their strength and ability," said Mr. Badal.
He further said that state government was also striving hard to popularize the organic farming as the farmers of the state had over exploited the natural resources of the state and crop productivity had also reached at a saturation point. Mr. Badal offered Sri Sri to opt some villages in the state to be developed as Model Villages as per his guidance. State would extend all type of help and cooperation in this regard, said Mr. Badal. Emphasizing the need to reinforce human values amongst the society and recognizing humanity as our highest identity the founder of Art of Living Foundation Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said that He want to see Punjab as a Druf free state. To achieve sustainable peace on our planet, every one must obey the fact that all human beings were equal and have equal rights irrespective of the gender identity. To establish eternal love and happiness on this earth everyone must respect the women especially our daughters. Daughters are such a wonderful gift of God, which is precious of all the treasures of this world.
Expressing concern over the declining of male-female child sex ratio at an alarming rate in our society besides increasing trend of drug abuse, he said that, both the issues were very harmful for our society. For a healthy society the male-female child sex ratio must be maintained at almost the same level on one hand and young generation must be kept safe from the menace of drugs on the other. He also appreciated the initiatives taken by the state government taken to redress these issues of grave concern and offered his fulsome support and cooperation for this great social cause. Speaking on the occasion Minister Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal thanked Sri Sri Ravi Shankar founder of Art of Living foundation for extending his fulsome support for state government’s endeavor to weed out the menace of drug addiction and female foeticide. He also thanked him to initiate an Art of Living Skill Training course at ITI Nangal.