*All plans for de-addiction remain limited to paperwork only
Chandigarh : The General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee, former Union Minister, and MP from Sirsa, Kumari Selja said that all government schemes aimed at drug rehabilitation have remained confined to paperwork, and efforts in this regard have been superficial. As a result, instead of decreasing, drug supply has increased by 18% compared to the previous year, which is a matter of grave concern. Youth falling prey to drugs are facing fatal consequences. Therefore, the government should take strict measures in the direction of drug rehabilitation. Every member of society, along with the police, should cooperate in this campaign because only by involving the community can this problem be eradicated.
In a statement released to the media, Kumari Selja said that the statistics related to drugs in the state are alarming, and people from every section of society need to pay attention to this issue. Out of the 22 districts in the state, 16 are in serious condition, with 900 villages being the most affected. Haryana is a state where every type of drug is easily available. The youth between 18 and 35 years old are the most affected. Besides Haryana, adjoining areas in Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, and UP are also in the grip of drugs. She said that Sirsa and Fatehabad districts are the most affected, in addition to Hisar, Rewari, Yamunanagar, Ambala, Jind, Faridabad, Karnal, Kaithal, Rohtak, Sonipat, Kurukshetra, Palwal, and Nuh, which are also in the clutches of drugs. On average, 50 people die each year due to drug abuse. The government has been concealing data related to drug-related deaths, while ground-level figures tell a different story.
Kumari Selja said that all the schemes formulated by the state government for drug rehabilitation have remained limited to paperwork, with no visible implementation on the ground. Until the campaign stops being merely performative, success will not be achieved. There is a lack of staff in narcotics cells across the state. In such circumstances, how can drug traffickers be controlled? Unless public support is involved in this campaign, success cannot be achieved. Combating drug abuse is not solely the responsibility of the police; everyone needs to contribute. She said that drugs are the root cause of all types of crime, and if drug abuse is curbed, crime will also decrease. The government must take strict steps in this direction.
