CHANDIGARH: The realization of the golden dream of VIKSIT BHARAT by 2047 rests on the shoulders of a robust young generation who needed to be given a positive direction to wean them away from drug menace and channelize their abundant energy towards the welfare of the society and ultimately the Nation. Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria expressed these views while delivering an inaugural address at conclave on Stress Management and Drug Addiction in Universities & Colleges of Punjab here today at the Punjab Raj Bhavan.
Giving a clarion call for the united and concerted action to wipe out the drug scourge, the Governor emphasized the significance of making our children Stress free which helps a great deal in having a positive bearing on their personality. Underlining the role of educational institutions in saving Punjab from the clutches of drugs, Sh. Kataria said that emphasis must be on engaging the children in the extra co curricular activities in the academic institutions to mould them into future leaders and role models.
Batting the need to be on guard against the nefarious designs of some countries to harm India through drug trafficking when they can't defeat India by waging a war. Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria divulged that the NDPS Act should be implemented in full force and expressed satisfaction that under the act the State of Punjab has the highest conviction rate of 85 percent in the entire country.
In his valedictory speech, the Governor stressed that addressing drug abuse requires more than just holding events—it calls for a deep, sustained commitment across all levels of society. He appealed to the Vice Chancellors to ensure that their Campuses are drug free. He further suggested that a campus should be publicized as “drug free” if it genuinely is, and if not, efforts must be intensified until that status is achieved. This commitment, he insists, should extend beyond the university campus to include affiliated colleges, ensuring that prevention and education start early.
Earlier, the Health & Family Welfare Minister, Punjab, Dr. Balbir Singh said that the supply chain should be broken to stop the inflow of drugs as Punjab doesn't produces drugs and is only a transit state. The youth needs to be given skill and industrial demand centric education besides micro financing should be made use of to the optimum level to provide financial assistance to the youth to propel them into going in for own ventures as mostly unemployed youth take to drugs. Calling women and children the worst sufferers of drug & crime nexus, the Minister batted for innovative educational techniques and reaching out to the children especially at the formative level.
The DGP, Punjab, Mr. Gaurav Yadav highlighted the narco terrorism being perpetrated by Pakistan from across the border and the steps taken by State Police to combat the same. The DGP also informed that property worth Rs. 387 Crore of drug smugglers stands frozen in Punjab.
On the occasion, Prof. Dr. Pratima Murthy, Director, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bengaluru presented her views on Understanding the problem and approaches to intervention besides Prof. Dr. Seema Mehrotra also from NIMHANS, who dwelled upon Mental wellness among students in higher education.
On the occasion, various such as Prof. Renu Vig from Panjab University Chandigarh, Prof. S.S. Gosal from PAU, Ludhiana, Dr. Manpreet Manna from Chandigarh University, Dr. Sandhir Sharma from Chitkara University, Prof. Karamjeet Singh from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar and State Program Officer, Mental Health and De-addiction, Punjab, Dr. Sandeep Bhola also aired their views on drug abuse and stress management.
Among others present on the occasion included the ACS to Governor - Mr. K. Siva Prasad, Principal Secretary to the Governor - Mr. Vivek Pratap Singh, Mr. Sagar Setia IAS, Former VC GNDU Amritsar Dr. Jaspal Singh Sandhu and Lalit Jain Director Census & Citizenship, MHA.