Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, April 16: Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh reiterated here today that the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will completely eradicate drugs from the state. He said that strict action will be taken against drug traffickers and sympathy will be maintained with drug addicts.
         During his visit to the Government Drug De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre in Sector 66, Mohali today, he said that the Punjab Government is also coordinating with big private sector hospitals to provide treatment to drug addicts in the state on the government model so that some beds from them can be taken and the treatment & rehabilitation of drug addicts can be done. He said that talks are going on with the management of Suhana Hospital in Mohali in this regard and a positive response is also being received from them, under which 100 beds will be used by the government for the treatment of drug addicts.
       He said that the existing IPD of 50 beds in this District Drug De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre in Mohali is being increased to 70.  Apart from this, sports, kitchen gardening, yoga, gym and counselling services are being provided to the drug addicts undergoing treatment here to get them off the drugs. He also inaugurated a yoga centre for these youth today. He said that Bhangra will also be taught to these youth twice a week, for which the district administration has also taken the services of Professor Gur Bakhshish Singh Antal of Government Polytechnic College Khuni Majra at the local level. Today, a youth undergoing treatment also recited his own songs to Minister.
       The Health Minister said that along with treatment, the drug addicts will be imparted with skill training as per the needs of the industry to make them able for rehabilitation and self-employment in the future so that they do not have to worry about their future after treatment. He said that apart from this, arrangements will be made to provide training in high value crops like dragon fruit and turmeric to the drug addicts who belong to farming families through the Agriculture Department, Horticulture Department and Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
      He also interacted with drug addicts on this occasion and motivated them to give up drugs and start a new life. He said that the Punjab Government will also help them in making self-employment arrangements to start a new life. He said that to create a healthy society, we will have to leave this bad habit and come forward with determination and become their guides to get other such addicts out of this dark life.
        He said that the campaign 'Yudh Nasheya Virudh' launched by the Punjab Government is getting a positive response and while this has helped in curbing the supply of drugs in Punjab on a large scale, work is also being done to make drug addicts a part of the mainstream of society by providing treatment. He reiterated that during this campaign, either the drug smugglers will have to stop their work or else they will have to leave the land of Punjab.
Among the officers present, included, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Kumar Rahul, Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal, ADC (Development) Sonam Chaudhary, Civil Surgeon Dr. Sangeeta Jain, Deputy Medical Commissioner and Nodal Officer District De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Centre Dr. Parvinder Pal Kaur and Superintendent of Ambedkar Institute of Medical Sciences Dr. Navdeep.