Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today reviewed the massive campaign launched by the police department against the drug trafficking, besides ensuring elaborate arrangements by the Health Department for the rehabilitation of the drug addicts in the state. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's office said that Mr. Badal was presiding over a meeting of the 'Punjab State Drug de-Addiction and Rehabilitation Board' recently constituted to have better coordination and synergy in the initiatives aimed at eradicating the menace of drugs from the state.Taking part in the deliberations during meeting the Inspector General of Police (Narcotic Cell) Mr. Ishwar Singh apprised the Chief Minister that focussing at the nil availability of narcotics in the state, Police had initiated this successful gigantic drive under which the total arrests made so far included about 25% of top smugglers and to arrest proclaimed offenders (POs), operation was being carried out at war footing. These efforts had brought nearly total cut-off the Narcotics supply line in the state, said IG.
The Chief Minister also approved the proposal mooted by the Chief Secretary that various drug addicts arrested with non-commercial quantity of drugs (self consumption quantity) during the state wide drive could bailout after signing a bond paper in the respective court, auguring to undergo anti-drug/detoxification treatment and regular monitoring in Government recognised drug de-addiction centre for a period of one year. Mr. Badal asked the Chief Secretary to review the 3677 such cases identified by the Jail and Police authorities and work out a legal remedy. Meanwhile the Special Secretary Health informed the Chief Minister that as many as 2,61,132 drug addicts as outdoor patents (OPD) had been given treatment so far in the government hospitals, whereas indoor treatment had been provided to 7874 drug addicts in various government hospitals. At present a net work of total 21 DDA Centres and 18 Rehabilitation Centres across the state was available that would soon be more strengthened with the competition of under construction six new DDACs and five state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Centres. Requisite number of Psychiatrists and Consulars would also be arranged soon.
On the occasion Dr. Ajit Awasthi from the psychiatry department PGIMER appreciated the sincere efforts of the state government under the guidance of Mr. Badal. He said that undoubtedly this task was very tough but the speed with which the state government was handling it was really appreciable. Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included Cabinet Minister Mr. Surjit Kumar Jiyani, Chief Secretary Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Health Mrs. Vinie Mahajan, Principal Secretary Home Mr. JS Sandhu, Special Principal Secretaries to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar, Managing Director Punjab Health System Corporation Mr. Hussan Lal, Secretary Technical Education Mr. Rakesh Verma, Special Principal Secretary Health Mr. Vikas Garg, Director Social Security Ms. Alaknanda Dayal, ADGP Prisons Mr. RP Meena, Inspector General of Police (Narcotic Cell) Mr. Ishwar Singh, Dr. Ajit Awasthi and Dr D Basu from the psychiatry department PGIMER and Director Health and Family Welfare Dr. Karanjit Singh, besides Commissioner Of Jalandhar, Patiala and Ferozpur pisiones Mr. R VenketRaman, Mr. AS Pannu, and Mr. VK Sharma .