Call against drugs

PUNJAB’s drug problem is so severe that every effort aimed at stemming the rot deserves praise. It is commendable that many Punjabi celebrities — from renowned actors and singers to outstanding sportspersons — have exhorted people of the state to shun drugs and restore the health of Punjabi youth. Amid the continuing police crackdown on drugs, the appeal by these popular figures is expected to bolster the fight against the menace, which has been eating into the state’s vitals for the past two decades or so. The involvement of India’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh and cricketers Harmanpreet Kaur and Arshdeep Singh in the ‘nasha-mukt Punjab’ movement is particularly significant. Fitness is a key prerequisite for sporting success, and champions belonging to the state can inspire youngsters to stay away from drugs and take up sports as a career or a hobby.

As far as Punjabi performers are concerned, they need to be more vocal in condemning singers, actors and filmmakers who glorify alcohol consumption and violence. Those who promote the lethal cocktail of drugs and guns should be called out unequivocally. The cleansing and course correction have to start within the Punjabi film and music industry.

Hindi movie Udta Punjab (2016) drew the nation’s attention to the border state’s drug crisis. The state government of the day contended that Punjab was wrongly portrayed as a drug haven, but there were many observers who saw in it a glimpse of the ground situation. Eight years later, the famed land of farmers and soldiers is still struggling to erase the drug taint and combat narco terror. Apart from the wholehearted support of stars, Punjab needs greater assistance from the Centre. Curbing cross-border smuggling of contraband holds the key to snapping the supply chain. A multi-pronged strategy — combining stringent law enforcement with public awareness campaigns — can do Punjab a world of good.