‘The Punjab Government fully committed for the rehabilitation of the youth, who have successfully come out of the trap of drug addiction. Strenuous efforts of the government in this regard have borne fruits as number of youth have come back to the mainstream by giving up the drug addiction’. It was disclosed by Sohan Singh Thandal, Minister for Tourism and Cultural affairs, Punjab, while addressing the gathering at a special function organized at Hoshiarpur to honour more than two dozen youth of Chabbewal constituency, who have given up drug addiction.The minister said that besides drug de-addiction centers at various hospitals of the state, the Punjab government has also opened up such drug de addiction centers in the Jails of Punjab. He said in jails the psychiatrists do the counseling of the addicted youth and then medical treatment is provided to them free of cost. He said that till date more than 6000 habitual drug addicts have given up the drugs. He said that keeping in mind all the legalities, the state government would try to ensure release of such inmates. He said that to check the drug trafficking commendable job has been done by the state government. He said that in the whole of country, Punjab has nabbed the highest number of drug traffickers till date.
Mr. Thandal called upon all the political parties and leaders to rise above the party line and join hands with the state government to make the state ‘drug free’. He said that it is highly unethical that other political parties have been tarnishing the image of Punjab by projecting the drug issue with ulterior motives. He said state government has now started the second phase of its drug de addiction campaign. “Under this campaign special search teams would visit every nook and corner of the state and anyone found indulged in the sale of banned drugs would be brought to the books, at the same time financial help to start subsidiary occupation would be extended to those who have given up drug addiction” he added.
Among the youth who were today honored for giving up drug addiction was Ram Chander from Mahilpur. Narrating his tale of getting into the drug trap, he said that he is MA pass and he started drinking in the bad company of friends. He said that he has become so addicted that his family parted ways with him; even his wife and children had decided to get away from him. He said that his situation had become suicidal that he made firm resolve to give up the habbit of drinking. Similar stories were narrated by 26 years old Gurpreet Singh from Chabbewal, who was a noted footwall player before getting into the trap of drug addiction. Visually ecstatic he said that he has got new lease of life after he gave up drug addiction with all his family members and friends are around him.