“Fauja Singh, 103, who holds the world record for marathon in
his age group, has been selected for British Empire Medal as part of New Year
Honours. Fauja, who completed his last competitive
26-mile race in Hong Kong last year, will receive the award in recognition for
his athletic achievements.”
Reading this newspaper
report last week & feeling proud for Punjabi ‘Turbanned Tornado’ who even
featured in an Adidas advertisement in 2004 with David Beckham and Mohd. Ali, I
received a phone call bringing news of demise of a childhood friend due to drug
overdose. Death of a newly married, 29 years old friend would shock even the
most stone hearted person. Albeit sad , I wasn’t shocked!
One is destined to die
that way if he choses heroine over his meals.
Charas (cannabis), Ganja(Marijuana),
Afeem, Heroine have became part of Punjab’s lifestyle. Heroine is bought from
Afghanistan at Rs 1 lakh/kg. Passing through Pakistan it is smuggled into
Punjab and sold for Rs 30 lakh a kg. From Punjab it is sold to the rest of the
country. Having the most unfortunate tag of being one of the highest per capita
consumer of liquor, Punjab is now going through a hurricane of drugs which has
claimed lives in epic proportions in the granary of India.
Village
Of Widows
Maqboolpura, a village
near the Golden City Amritsar is now famous as village of widows where at least
one man from each house has given up to this diabolical monster. Amritsar and
Tarn taran districts are the worst affected. Many more villages await the same
fate in the land of saints where liquor shops outnumber public schools.
The
Sixth River
The land of five
rivers-Panj(5) & Aab(water)- now has one more river on its land but that’s
nothing to be cheerful for. This sixth overflowing river is of Drugs is flooding
the generation. And it has left no one untouched- college & school
children, kabaddi players, police personal, national boxers, politicians. Some
as victims and some as smugglers.
75% of Punjabi youth is
drug addict as per Punjab govt.’s admission to Punjab & Haryana High Court.
The drug business is worth thousands of crores and ever growing. When the
policy makers in New Delhi formulate strategies for reaping Demographic
Dividend, I wish these unfortunate boys and girls get a fraction of their
thought. They need support, strength and a strategy to come out of that part of
society where they are treated as useless, hopeless & wasted burden.
3/4th of
youth of a state get addicted and drugs reach the remotest corner without any
agency smelling any foul. Is it a normal failure of governance? The extent of
drug menace makes one wonder if anyone
is checking this at all.
Agencies
involved to keep vigil
BSF, Directorate of Narcotics
Intelligence, Narcotics Control Bureau, Intelligence bureau, Punjab Police are
all behind the drug traders, dealers, consumers. Isn’t it intriguing that
nothing has worked out so far? What makes them all helpless fence sitters while
more & more are dying? DSPs & Cabinet ministers’ names are being
dragged in investigations of drug smuggling. “Who will guard the guards ?”
Punjab is known for
creating new highs and records. Yet another was an unprecedented phenomenon of
distribution of drugs for votes in 2009 assembly elections. A bewildered and
amazed Chief Election Commissioner revealed that he has seen liquor
distribution in many elections but this was for him a “unique phenomenon in any
elections”. Prisons in the state are instead of being the correctional homes,
working as safe havens for drug users. You see such news every second day in
local newspapers. Amidst such events even the most optimistic person will yield
ground. UN Office on Drugs & Crime warns about the alarming levels of drug
use in Punjab posing danger to a whole generation.
Many pharmacies offer
synthetic versions of expensive drugs for those who can’t afford genuine
versions. The illegal drugs industry has modified itself according to the needs
of market and all this under the nose of the best agencies of country. If you
still can’t afford synthetic ones, the jugaad comes in. Petrol, Iodex or even
lizards serve the purpose. That is the desperation of addicts causing immensely
horrible health consequences and sudden death.
Drugs in Punjab has
become immensely complex problem requiring immensely innovative solutions. For civil
society, teachers, social activists, legislators, religious leaders, students
& each & every Punjabi & Indian and for PUNJAB…. It is Do or Die!!!
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