Punjab minister of health and family welfare Surjit Kumar Jyani on Sunday said that the drug problem in state is not as big as is being projected by those who want to defame it, notwithstanding the SAD-BJP government is committed to wipe out the usage of drug completely.
While addressing a state-level function organised to mark the international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking at state’s first government deaddiction and rehabilitation centre here, the minister refuted the claim that Punjab is the most vulnerable state in drug addiction. “It is a false propaganda by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other leaders from the opposition that 70% youth of the state are drug addicts”, he said.
“Today, we have made arrangements of 2,200 beds in various drug de-addiction centres across the state, but more than 1,900 are vacant. It suggests that drug addicts are very few in number in the state. I always ask people who cry over the drug menace in Punjab to name four persons they know are drug addicts but have never got an answer,” Jyani said.
He added, “During old times, the people of Punjab used to take various kinds of drugs including desi wine, opium, poppy husk etc. openly especially during celebrations. But, at present, nobody takes drugs in such quantity. Despite this fact, the vision, especially of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, is to make the state free from drugs.”
{{/usCountry}}He added, “During old times, the people of Punjab used to take various kinds of drugs including desi wine, opium, poppy husk etc. openly especially during celebrations. But, at present, nobody takes drugs in such quantity. Despite this fact, the vision, especially of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, is to make the state free from drugs.”
{{/usCountry}}Jyani also urged the parents of the drug addicts not to hesitate to bring their children to government drug de-addiction centres as the government is providing all kinds of modern facilities to help them.
Commenting on the bollywood movie ‘Udta Punjab’, he said the film is not reality-based and is just for entertainment of the people.
Meanwhile, the programme which was organised with a motive to creating awareness against drugs among the youth, saw a very low turnout of the general public while the pandal was full with staff members of the health department, government medical college and Punjab AIDS control society.