Jalandhar: ‘Mothers Against Drugs’ spreads awareness in school corridors

Jalandhar: Under the aegis of the Punjab Lit Foundation (PLF), a two-day drug awareness and sensitization campaign was conducted in five schools in Jalandhar Cantt on January 19th and 20th. This campaign was part of their special “Mothers Against Drugs” initiative. Led by author and former State Information Commissioner (Punjab) Khushwant Singh, the campaign included a session by psychologist and behavioral expert Gaurav Gill, who reinforced the campaign’s core message: mothers are the “first line of defense” in protecting children from drug abuse. These sessions were conducted in four PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalayas and the Army Public School (Senior Wing), with the target population comprising mothers and students from classes X to XII. Over the two days, over 200 mothers and 300 students were sensitized, and practical guidance was provided on early identification, prevention, communication, and building emotional resilience in adolescents. Speaking at the session, Singh emphasized the gravity of the situation and urged parents and civil society to be more vigilant. He said, “Punjab can no longer consider drugs a problem for anyone else. A mother’s vigilance, courage, and involvement can be the strongest shield for a child. A mother’s awareness saves the child.” Emphasizing the behavioral and psychological aspects of addiction, Gill explained why prevention education in families is crucial. He said, “Addiction doesn’t start with drugs; it starts with stress, secrets, emotional isolation, and silence. When mothers are trained to recognize early behavioral changes and have open conversations, they can stop the cycle before it becomes a crisis.”
The campaign session guided both mothers and students on recognizing early warning signs, resisting peer pressure, identifying emotional triggers, and building strong family communication. Participants were encouraged to seek timely help, reduce the stigma associated with counseling, and treat prevention as a daily responsibility—not a one-time conversation. Sana Kaushal, co-founder of PLF, said that the initiative has grown into a large grassroots movement over the past year. She added that the campaign has sensitized approximately 5,500 mothers across Punjab. PLF reiterated its commitment to expand this initiative district-by-district, working with educational institutions, administrators, and community stakeholders to ensure that mothers and families become active defenders of Punjab’s youth.