Punjab: Campaign launched to combat drug abuse

Punjab: In a bid to curb drug abuse in the state, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (Central Government) has launched a campaign to motivate youth to take up sports. The campaign, titled ‘Punjab Ke Yuva’, has been conceptualised by Sukhwinder Singh Bindra, national member of the central body, and is scheduled to be launched on January 11 during an event at the Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana. The inaugural ceremony will be presided over by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, along with three ministers from the Central government. Bindra expressed gratitude to senior officials of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for supporting the initiative and recognised the urgent need to address the growing problem of drug abuse in the state and its impact on law and order.

“We have completed a draft plan to encourage youth in over 12,500 villages and around 100 urban areas to adopt the spirit of sports as part of their lifestyle. This will include distributing sports kits to sports clubs and educational institutions across the state,” he said. Bindra emphasised that active participation in sports will provide a positive environment to the youth, which will help them stay away from drugs and psychotropic substances. He also urged the office bearers and activists of social, educational and constitutional organisations to collaborate with the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD). NISD is currently focusing on several socially defined programmes including drug abuse prevention, welfare of senior citizens and transgender people, prevention of beggary and other community welfare issues. The ‘Yuva of Punjab’ campaign is seen as an important step towards engaging the youth in healthy activities and preventing the spread of drug abuse in the state.