Batala, August 26
Where NGOs and officials of the district administration failed in their attempt to curb the curse of drugs in the notorious Gandhi Camp area, a little known charitable society-Jan Kalyan Charitable Society- which likes to do work in anonymity, is making waves by nipping in the bud the doping menace.

Apart from fighting the perils of dope in the infamous Gandhi Camp and other areas of Batala, the society, run by Harmanjit Singh Goraya, also distributes tri-cycles among the poor and needy.

DIG (Border) Paramraj Singh Umranangal formally launched the website of the society today. The Gandhi Camp area has acquired notoriety for being the epicentre of drugs in Batala.

For the last several years, politicians have been making tall claims about eradicating drugs from this locality, but nothing concrete has been done.

The nexus between local politicians and the drug mafia means doctors and NGOs fear to hold drug de-addiction camps. After much thought and planning, the society decided to hold a drug de-addiction camps in the area. The then Batala SSP Rajpal Singh Sandhu provided security to doctors and para-medical staff.

“The Gandhi camp area is fighting a losing battle against the rising menace of drugs. The phenomenon has reached Kafkaesque proportions following which the Jan Kalyan Society has formulated a multi-pronged action plan. The action plan envisages an unambiguous discussion among Batala’s school and college principals, holding of seminars and camps at truck unions and bus depots as drivers are notorious for not only consuming drugs but are also responsible for trafficking of all types of drugs and the formation of village-level committees,” claimed Harmanjit Goraya.

“It is has been found that codeine and other drugs, which produce an instant high are easily available. The profit is high and chemists near Gandhi Camp do not hesitate to bribe drug inspectors. Many chemist shops which were earlier just shanties, are flourishing as they bribe drug inspectors, who often look the other way,” he added.