The Drug Addiction Menace
In the areas bordering Pakistan, drug trafficking is rampant. A large number of youngsters start with the thrill of experimentation and eventually become drug addicts. Wherever I travelled during campaigning, many people have expressed concern on the issue. Several families have been destroyed due to this problem. The potential of young men has been damaged. The social fabric of the society has suffered badly.
Even though it is primarily the responsibility of every family to inculcate such values in the children that keep them away from the forbidden path, nonetheless, Governments cannot abdicate their responsibility in this matter.
Both Central and State Governments have an onerous responsibility to discharge. A tight vigil along the border which prevents availability of narcotics is the prime responsibility of the governments. Strict and deterrent punishment for those who trade in and supply prohibited drugs is a state responsibility. The users have to be compassionately dealt with. Establishment of De-addiction Centres in affected areas, which are run by professionals and trained people is essential. The social and economic environment of the affected areas has to be radically improved. I have the following stray-thoughts on the subject:-
1. Create new avenues for gainful employment. Amritsar has Six Polytechnic Institutes and Six Industrial Training Institutes. These need upgradation. In addition, I will seek the creation of 6 new Polytechnic Institutes and similarly 6 new Industrial Training Institutions. The curriculum would be revamped to meet new emerging demands. Information Technology and Smart Classes which connect training institutions with potential employers will greatly help in employment creation.
2. Will seek robust broadband connectivity and penetration of Information Technology both for Amritsar and its surrounding rural hamlets and expedite the establishment of the proposed Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) centre in Amritsar.
3. Incentivize setting up additional 25,000 Small and Medium Industries based on the comparative factor advantage of Amritsar — particularly textiles, woolen fabrics, textile machinery, agro-processing and leather products. In addition, many of the existing 12,418 SMEs which give employment to 55,429 people, along with 24 Medium and Large units which employ 6,176 people, need financial restructuring. We will commission a detailed study unit wise and help in the rejuvenation of the existing Small and Medium Industries.
4. Set up an Entrepreneurial Development Centre for training of potential entrepreneurs which will create the basis for new SMEs to be set up and generate employment potential.
5. Establishment of Sports Development Centres in the State. Punjab has great tradition of producing outstanding sportsmen. There should be multiple Sports Centres with facilities of all outdoor sports in the State. There have to be two to three Sports Centres in every District. The atmosphere of outdoor sports has to be recreated.
6. Training of youth for job orientation converting them into skilled work-force, creation of job opportunities through promotion of small and medium industries, establishment of Entrepreneurial Development Centres is essential. Addiction to sports rather than to drugs must be the aim.
I visited an outsourcing centre in Amritsar. It has employed a few thousand IT trained youngsters who speak three languages; English, Hindi and Punjabi. Industrial training and coaching institutions must be encouraged to offer knowledge or multiple languages which adds to employability. The States in Southern India have done well in business process outsourcing. If Gurgaon can become an outsourcing hub, why can’t be outskirts of Amritsar respond to the challenge? Mass jobs for youngsters, particularly young ladies, are generated in this field.
Let the stray thoughts be a subject matter of debate.