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Tackling drug menace

CHITLEEN K SETHI’s article, “Punjab’s drug bazaars” (Sunday Oped, April 25) is a clear picture of the sources, sale and availability of drugs in the Punjab market. She rightly says that three P’s (police-politician-peddler) are the root cause of the malaise.

Drug addiction is a disease that disrupts the normal function of the brain and affects behaviour. Around three million Indians are projected victims of different kinds of drug abuse. The easy availability of the intoxicating medicines is ruining the youths in Punjab. It has also been observed that many girls are seeking divorce today because of the drug addiction of their husbands.

Since the sale of medicines is regulated by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act for which the authority concerned is the Drug Controller, there is a need to enforce this Act firmly as the business is deep-rooted in society. The only way to check drug addiction is to declare the sale of these medicines only against a doctor’s prescription. It should also be treated as a cognisable offence under the law. Exemplary punishment should be given to those violating the rules.

There is a need to spread awareness on the problem by organising seminars at various levels.

HARISH K. MONGA, Ferozepur City

I have read the article with the attention it deserves. One needs to examine the menace in its entirety. The situation of the Majha region, particularly Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran, is equally serious because the writer didn’t mention it.

Drug addiction is a very serious matter. Thousands of youth in this border area turn drug addicts due to the unemployment problem and the government’s apathy and negligence towards this area. Nearly 70 per cent of youth are unemployed because of lack of infrastructure and heavy industries in this region. Besides, the poor education system and lack of vocational training institutes are also affecting the prospects of the youth.

The jobless youth in this region have two options: either to go abroad for livelihood or indulge in drug addiction. Drugs lead to violence and crime as the crime rate is high in this region. There is no law and order in this region.

GOURAV SALLY, Batala

Atrocities on Dalits on the rise
IN his article, “Checking atrocities on Dalits: High time to liberate rural Haryanvis from neo-feudal culture” (Perspective, May 2), Prof Ranbir Singh has analytically examined the factors responsible for the increase in the atrocities on Dalits in Haryana.
A major reason for the unabated atrocities on Dalits is that the ruling and major Opposition parties in Haryana are dominated by the landowning upper castes who have kept mum on the atrocious diktats of the khap panchayats.
In addition to the apathetic approach of the political parties, the strong caste divide between the Ravidasias and Balmikis of the Scheduled Castes has weakened their resistance to fight the age-old repression by the dominating farming community.
The writer has rightly suggested that the recommendations of the Third State Finance Commission regarding adequate attention to educational growth and economic empowerment of the Dalits should be implemented effectively.
LAJPAT RAI GARG, Panchkula