PM says family, friends, society, Govt, law must work together for a drug-free India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raised serious concern over the menace of drug addiction, saying money raised through proliferation of drugs was used for financing terror. Calling for waging a war against the problem, he said officials have been asked to set up a toll-free helpline to assist those in the clutches of drug addiction.
“Have you ever thought that the money you spend on drugs might be going to terrorists who buy bullets to kill our soldiersIJ You also love mother India. How can you help terroristsIJ” he said in his third Mann Ki Baat programme on radio.
Asserting that society and the Government will have to work together to fight this problem, the Prime Minister said a thinking process should begin to ensure that the country is rid of this problem and added that he will try to involve celebrities from the cine world, sports and other fields to campaign for a “drug-free India”.
Describing the menace as a “national pain” he said it was “a malaise filled 3D — darkness, destruction and devastation”. “For long, I have been concerned about the young generation...That someone’s child has got caught in such a quagmire where everything is devastated. Drugs are such a devastation,” Modi said in his broadcast to the nation. At the same time, he said, “drug addiction is bad, not the child.”
Describing it as a psycho-socio-medical problem, he said families, friends, society, Government and the law will have to work together to fight it as working in pieces will not help.
Recalling that he had promised to talk about drug menace in this Mann Ki Baat programme, Modi said he had received thousands of letters and mails from people, reflecting that an atmosphere of consultation has already started.
The Government has also been sensitised, he said. Asking the youth to say “no” to drugs, the PM said, “You may be thinking that taking drugs is a “style statement” or “cool”. It is neither. It just leads you to devastation.”
Getting into the root of the drug problem, Modi said the absence of a “goal” and proper guidance could be pushing the youth into the dark alley of drug abuse. Asking the parents to help children to fix goals and work to achieve those, he said, “let your children open their hearts to you. You should observe their behaviour to see that they do not go on the wrong path. Nobody else can do what parents can do,” Modi said.
Suggesting that those in clutches of drugs should be encouraged to come out of it, he cited the example of some cine actor Sanjay Dutt who took to drugs and even went to jail but changed later for the better. The Prime Minister said he chose this subject as it is a “national pain” and he was giving outlet to his anguish in the process.
While exhorting the youth to have positive ambitions and goals, Modi referred to the “enthusiasm” and “drive” of Indian Blind Cricket Team which recently met him after winning the World Cup. He also mentioned the victory achieved by Jammu & Kashmir cricket team against Mumbai in the Ranji Cup to highlight the extraordinary drive in them.
“Jammu & Kashmir was hit by floods recently. Its playgrounds were flooded. However, despite the difficulties, its team achieved the goal. It showed top most drive and emerged victorious in the cricket tournament. I congratulate them,” he said.
The Prime Minister also referred to the UN decision declaring June 21 as the ‘International Yoga Day’ and said the record 177 nations co-sponsored the resolution on a subject which is an idea of India. A resolution to declare Nelson Mandela’s birthday as international day had earlier received the maximum co-sponsorship of 166 countries, he said.
He also talked about his meeting with Chief Ministers last Sunday at his residence to discuss the future of Planning Commission. At the ‘Retreat’ that followed the formal meeting, he said, Chief Ministers confabulated like friends, without pen, paper and officials, discussing social issues and no politics. The Prime Minister also exhorted people to visit North-East, where he travelled over a week ago, saying the nature can be experienced the best in that region.