Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has offered to provide NRI Punjabi doctors, specially psychiatrists and therapists, infrastructure to set up de-addiction centres within existing Government hospitals in all major cities of Punjab, once Congress is voted to power in the State. Capt Amarinder, addressing a gathering of Punjabi diaspora from Central Califonia at Fresno on Tuesday, urged the NRI doctors to work in partnership with him for the rehabilitation of lakhs of drug-addicted Punjab’s youths.
“We would provide you with infrastructure in the existing Government hospitals in Patiala, Amritsar, ludhiana and Jalandhar and all other facilities so that you don’t need to waste time in constructing buildings and clinics,” he said adding that all he needed from them was their expertise for the rehabilitation of Punjabi youths.
Regretting that Punjab only has 11 psychiatrists on role, Capt Amarinder said that counselling is a major part of de-addiction process and psychiatrists and therapists have a crucial role in treatment and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioural disorders of addicts.
Capt Amarinder said that he had a very fruitful discussion with a group of Fresno-based Punjabi NRI doctors, who were willing to help, without even charging any money, but were apprehensive of the red-tape and lengthy formalities required to start such operations. He said that he had assured them that if Congress were voted to power, they would face no such problems.
Responding to questions, Capt Amarinder said that he would have a three-pronged strategy to stop sale and distribution of drugs in Punjab. “Firstly, we would take strictest action against manufacturers and distributors of synthetic drugs and if needed, we would involve the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax authorities to break their backs,” he said adding that this all would done within the first four weeks of his government.
He said that he would also push for formulation of a comprehensive National Drug Policy to end ambiguity of state laws that allow growth and distribution of psychotropic drugs in some states. “Finally, I would also pursue with the Centre for restricting the posting tenures of BSF personnel at Pak borders to one year, so as to mitigate any chances of them forming a nexus with Pak Rangers for facilitating drug smuggling”, he said.
On his proposal to deal with corruption in Punjab, Capt Amarinder said that during the first session on the assembly, his government would enact a strong lokpal Act, under which the lokpal would have the independence to take suo motu cognizance of reports and complaints of corruption against anyone – from Chief Minister and downwards.