CHANDIGARH, June 25:
Bolstering the idea that the fight against drug abuse requires a whole-of-society approach, the Punjab government on Thursday held Sanjha Suneha – Ik Jutt Punjab, a first-of-its-kind conclave, aimed at building a sustained partnership between government agencies, community leaders, civil society organisations, and social media influencers to tackle the menace of substance abuse in the state.
The conclave was organised on the eve of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking by the Data Intelligence and Technical Support Unit (DITSU), the technical backbone behind the comprehensive action against drug abuse in Punjab. The event witnessed overwhelming participation with more than 80 delegates from over 40 organisations working in education, mental health, de-addiction, child protection, youth, women empowerment, community outreach and sports.
At the event, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh underlined the need for community ownership and collective action in the ongoing battle against substance abuse.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Balbir Singh emphasised that the Punjab government has adopted a comprehensive strategy that includes enforcement, treatment and rehabilitation, and prevention under the Yudh Nashean Virudh campaign. He also said, “To empower youth, we have initiated this campaign in the schools and colleges, encouraging sports activities and also simultaneously guiding parents and teachers to take the fight against drugs head on.”
“Ik Jutt Punjab is Rangla Punjab. For the campaign against drugs to be truly successful, it must become a people’s movement. From NGOs, educational institutions, and community leaders to the silent victims of the menace of drugs, this needs the involvement of every section of society. Which is why in today’s event, more than 40 NGOs are participating. This will make Sanjha Suneha a shared prayer-cum-platform where experiences, ideas and innovations will take the shape of reality,” he said.
He also highlighted the government’s efforts to strengthen de-addiction services across the state, expand rehabilitation facilities and spread awareness that is primarily aimed at preventing the youth from falling prey to drug abuse.
The conclave served as a meaningful platform for honest conversation and knowledge sharing among various participating organisations that have been working at the grassroots level. These organisations are working on treatment, prevention, and awareness for a healthier, prosperous Punjab. Representatives from organisations including UNODC, UNFPA, Ananya Birla Foundation, Slam Out Loud, Centre Square Foundation, Ladli Foundation, Aditya Birla Education Trust, Samarthya, Labhya, Kalgidhar Trust, Hans Foundation, Act Humane, Sarvprem Foundation, Mehar Foundation, Manas Ki Jaat Sabhe Ek Seva Society, Brahma Kumaris, Magic Bus, Initiators of Change, Roundglass Foundation, Youth Football Club Rurka Kala, SPYM, Karuna Shakti Foundation, Udayan Care, TYCIA, and Swami Vivekanand Medical Mission shared their insights from their experiences in the field.
Participants deliberated on key theme areas— prevention in colleges and schools, health and wellness, support for children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with the law, and youth empowerment through sports and other activities.
Special conversations on “Awareness through Social Media” brought together digital media influencers like Mehul Saini, Amarpreet Singh, Karman Kaur Miglani, Simran Kaur Khalsa, Kuldeep Ghai, RJ Gagan and RJ Jassi. The influencers discussed the transformative role of social media platforms in shaping public opinion and stressed the importance of spreading a positive message for the betterment of society and encouraging individuals struggling with drug abuse to go drug-free.
During the sessions, participants identified areas of collaboration, such as strengthening referral systems, enhancing mental health support in educational institutions, improving outreach to vulnerable groups and expanding the youth engagement in sports, skill development and community participation.
Participant Quotes:
Manish Kumar, Team Leader of SPYM, an NGO based out of Delhi, said, the biggest challenge about de-addiction is to make people aware of the negative consequences of drug abuse. “Our focus mainly is on providing information to the government on where the demand for services (opening up of de-addiction facility or an awareness camp, etc.) and post-recovery follow-up so that there are fewer and fewer cases of relapse.”
Dr Neelam Sodhi, who heads Ludhiana-based Zila Foundation, said, ” Drug abuse is basically a coping mechanism against the challenges of life. Zila Foundation connects to it by helping parents understand their children, and the children to understand themselves in totality and comprehensively, which is directly connected to drug abuse and also to ensure that when there are challenges, you don’t find substance abuse as a coping mechanism.”
