Shadow Correspondent
Jammu Oct 16 :
Former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla along with several other prominent persons today felicitated Sardar Parvinder Singh originally from Punjab at present Simbal Camp for his campaign to make people aware of ill effects of drugs and convincing and motivating all to say no to drugs on bicycle from Mumbai to Jammu. Prominent among those present on the occasion include SSP Jammu, SHO Gandhi Nagar, Gharu Ram Bhagat Ex MLA RS Pura, PCC Member Satish Sharma, PCC Member Dawarka Choudhary, Madam Suman Lata, Surjeet Singh Koku,Bachan Lal, Balbir Singh, Manmohan Singh, Capt. Harnam Singh, Mohinder Singh, AP Singh Lucky, Beant Singh, Ramandeep Kour and others. Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla said tackling the growing menace of drug abuse among the youth in state has emerged as one of the enormous challenges for the society in past few decades. Even though awareness and de addiction programs have been launched yet the surveys and studies reveal the nuisance has engulfed a vast percentage of population particularly younger generation. From time and again the researches and studies have suggested the substance abuse has gripped a bulk of population across the state. He said, “Drug addiction has impacted many youngsters in state. However, we as a society need to develop a broader prospective towards this sensitive issue. All have to get involved and start a movement against it.”Bhalla added, “Clerics should deliver sermons and create awareness among youngsters. Let them not talk about alcohol only but about drug addiction also. Besides, family and schools can play an all important role in curbing drug abuse. They too have to get alerted and keep a vigil over the activities of children. Bhalla said if stern initiatives were not taken substance abuse would prove fatal to the society. “The entire society has to join hands start a campaign against the nuisance which has disastrously ironically gripped our youth, Bhalla said.There are solutions to every problem provided we take firm steps towards it. The drug menace among the youngsters could definitely be curbed if we take steps and spread awareness and education among our youngsters. The society has to develop a collective approach towards this issue.”We need to implement reforms and actions to stop drug abuse. The civil society and the government have to be very practical. Selling of Suspicious drugs should be completely banned. Law enforcing agencies must crack down on drug mafia and stop the supplies of these drugs with immediate action,” Bhalla said. Shiromani Akali Dal J&K office bearers Sudershan Singh Wazir, Chairman J&K Sikh United Front speaking on the occasion saluted and appreciated the initiative of Sardar Parvinder Singh. It is desirable and advantageous if the Government of Jammu & Kashmir will revisit the Drug De-addiction Policy in the State and provide a more comprehensive mechanism to address this malady. The Jammu and Kashmir Police under Civic Action Programme is receiving funds to the tune of Rs.500.00 lakhs annually. The funds received are being utilized for Honorarium for two Drug de-addiction Centre’s at Jammu and Srinagar, Sports activities to involve / engage youth of the State, assistance to school going poor children, Police public meets etc. Sarpanch Ravinder Singh said that the menace of drug addiction was looming large in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said steps need to be taken to curb the menace of Drug Addiction and providing of Drug De-addiction Centers in the State.
There is need to respond to the proposal of the State Government keeping in mind the situation prevailing in the State of J&K for establishing drug de-addiction centers in various Districts of the state. Government must delineate on various methods to curb the menace of drug addiction which has been looming large in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. As to the effectiveness of de-addiction centers is concerned it requires regular monitoring and hence the Chief Secretary of the State must hold regular meetings with the concerned department and NGOs so that the issue relating drug de-addiction and the impact on the citizens of Jammu &Kashmir State is addressed, he added.
Sikh Nojawan Sabha, Simbal Camp maintained that considering the gravity of the Drug Addiction which the State of Jammu and Kashmir is facing, we need everybody to join hands, including the civil society, lawyers’ fraternity and judiciary because at times the accused are released on small technical failures. They must realise it is a fight against a mafia that is out to destroy the society.” J&K’s proximity to Pakistan and Punjab makes it vulnerable to smuggling. “One part of it is narco-terrorism being unleashed from across the border. Drug abuse not only leads to immense human distress but also is a significant cause of crimes and violence all over the world. The actual status of drug abuse in Jammu & Kashmir is not clear as no comprehensive survey in J &K has been carried out. However, there are some studies which show a very grim picture of substance abuse in the state.
