Multi-pronged
strategy is a must to curb drug menace
Punjab falls on one the main routes of drug smuggling from
Afghanistan, into Pakistan and then in to India on way to Delhi and other
destinations, including those abroad. There are big time drug lords and
smugglers, most of who are said to have “protection”. During the days of terrorism,
smuggling of narcotics shot up because of higher margins. This was the phase of
narco terrorism. During this phase narcotics were mainly passing through
Punjab, with hardly any consumption thereof, in Punjab. The money generated by
smuggling was used by the militants for the purchase of arms and ammunition.
Now on account of the changed scenario, narcotics smugglers are not only
“routing” but also selling drugs in Punjab to make a quick buck. These drug
smugglers, with the help of couriers and peddlers, have succeeded to a shocking
extent in dragging our youth into drug addiction and a very large percentage of
youth are consuming various narcotics and psychotropic drugs as also poppy husk
and opium, which freely comes in from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Punjab is
heavily into drug addiction. According to a report on the net, about 70% of our
youth are into drug addiction and about 66% of school going children has also
used drugs at one point of time or the other.
Though several drug de-addiction centers are running in
Punjab, but the truly scientific ones are only in the Kapurthala & Bhatinda
civil hospitals. Methadone treatment programme is going on here with the help
of UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime). The UNODC had opened these
centers after a detailed nationwide study. In all seven centers were opened all
over the country & two of them are in Punjab. This shows the shocking state
of affairs in Punjab. Another scientific, but a make shift, de-addiction centre
is going on in the Kapurthala jail where Buprenorphine is being used. This make
shift centre has de-addicted about 250 inmates but still it has about 300 fresh
inmates who are being treated. But the question is how many of them will remain
de-addicted, because the drugs remain freely available in the open society
where they have to go back ultimately.
A serious & sustained
crackdown is required on the drug smugglers closely followed by the
de-addiction programme. Dedicated de-addiction centers are required in all the
districts of Punjab along with counselors & psychiatrists. This menace can
be controlled only through a multi pronged strategy involving Police, Health,
Social Welfare and the Sports departments and proper co ordination thereof. The
Police to launch an overall offensive against the drug smugglers &
peddlers, registration of cases & their legal follow up, including
conviction and attachment of their properties. They are, however, unable to do
it because of their heavy charter of duties which includes maintaining law
& order, prevention & detection of crime, security duties etc. The
Health department needs to have a comprehensive policy with regard to
de-addiction & the same is true about the Social Welfare and the Department
of Sports and Youth affairs.
Punjab needs to have a statutory ANTI NARCOTICS COMMISSION,
to be headed by some truly dedicated individual who has a good exposure to all
these issues with D.G.P. and Principal Secretaries of the concerned
departments; Health, Social Welfare and Sports & Youth Affairs, as ex
officio co-chairpersons. This Commission should have a very limited sway over
the S.S.Ps., Civil Surgeons and district level officials of the Social Welfare
and Department of Sports & Youth affairs. This very limited role, however,
should remain confined to monitoring anti drug operations (Police department), monitoring
de-addiction programmes in all the districts with the help of NACO and possibly
the UNODC (Health department), ensuring counseling and moral support to the drug
addicts (Social Welfare Department) and promoting sports and organizing games
amongst youth, particularly drug addicts and former addicts (Department of
Sports and Youth Affairs).
Lastly, the Chairperson and the members of this required
Anti Narcotics Commission should be given adequate official status, good
official backup as also good security. The experience has shown that whosoever
raises a voice against the drug smugglers, does it at his own & his
family’s security risk. The proposed commission should report to the committee
set up by The Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court. The Chief Minister of
Punjab as also the Deputy Chief Minister have already sounded the bugle against
the drugs & if any such commission sees the light of the day, it can do wonders
in this field & accomplish their vision.
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