As part of the campaign being run by the Punjab government against drug abuse, members of the high-power committee constituted by the government are visiting various districts today. Health Minister Balbir Singh, who reached Fatehgarh Sahib on this occasion, has clarified that strict action will now be taken against drug smugglers. The government has also decided that those who are caught with small drugs or those who consume drugs in a minor way will not be sent directly to jail, rather the government will now get them treated.
The government is trying to get those people, who consume drugs through chitta or injection, out of this habit in the next three months so that they can avoid diseases like AIDS, black jaundice. They will be brought on medicines after getting rid of this addiction and then they will be given training to connect them with employment.
Apart from this, now private de-addiction centers will have to report every month that how many people they have freed from addiction. Also, a complete record of the medicines given to the patients will be kept. The Health Minister also said that today it was seen that medicines were being distributed in some de-addiction centres, but their beds were lying vacant, which is a matter of serious concern
Committee members will visit these districts
According to the information received from the Punjab government, Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh has visited Fatehgarh Sahib. He will now visit rehabilitation centres in Mohali. Cabinet Minister Aman Arora will visit Patiala today. During this, he will hold a meeting with the DC, SSP and other senior officials of Patiala. At the same time, Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Saundh will be in Fatehgarh Sahib. He will first pay obeisance at Gurudwara Sahib and then hold a meeting with the officials.
Earlier, districts were allotted to all the members of the committee. On the other hand, Health Minister Balbir Singh has made it clear that he will go to the districts under his control. Whereas he will visit the entire state for the ongoing campaign against drugs.
48 FIRs registered, 403 smugglers arrested
Continuous action is being taken under the ongoing campaign against drug smugglers. So far, a total of 48 FIRs have been registered and 403 drug smugglers have been arrested. On Monday, the police took action across the state and arrested 70 drug smugglers, out of which two smugglers were caught after an encounter.
Apart from this, a bulldozer was run on a house being built illegally by a drug smuggler in Bathinda. However, the administration claimed that the said person had built a house by encroaching on government land, due to which this action was taken.
