Statewide survey to know extent of drug menace: Sukhbir

Facing heat over drug abuse, Punjab government today said a statewide survey will be conducted to know the extent of the menace.
"A statewide survey to scientifically monitor the extent of drug problem in the state will be conducted," Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said here.
"Indian Council for Medical Research, New Delhi has sanctioned a survey for the state that will take more than two years and state government has already sanctioned Rs 2 crore for the survey, he added.
Badal also said school education department has been asked to include one chapter on ill-effects of drugs in the curriculum so that young children could be weaned away from drugs.

Similarly, the department would give separate marks for sports participation to encourage youth to channelise their energy, Badal said.
Exhorting the people to join in a collective war against drugs, Badal said any complainant giving credible information about "drug pushers" at helpline number 181 will be awarded Rs 10,000 and his identity would remain anonymous.

Badal said he has already ordered dope test of new recruits in the government service.
Addressing a public conclave here to sensitise people about steps taken by state government to curb the menace, Badal accused vested interest of tarnishing the image of Punjabis by dubbing them as drug addicts.

"The repeated wrong perceptions created by some ill informed political leaders had been twisted by the media and Punjab was being projected as a State facing a serious crisis of drug addiction," he said.
Badal said that it was unfortunate that national political leaders with half-baked knowledge had branded Punjabi youth as drug addicts.
He said the time has come that public should confront all these leaders, who were projecting Punjabis as addicts and damaging the image of the state throughout the world.
Reiterating zero tolerance against drug trafficking, Badal made it clear that nobody at whatsoever position if found involved in drug trade would not be spared by the Punjab Government.