Punjab CM Mann, schoolchildren offer prayers at Golden Temple as part of anti-drug initiative

PTI, Oct 19, 2023, 10:39 AM IST

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday exhorted the youth to come forward to deal a final blow to the drug menace as he joined 35,000 schoolchildren in offering ‘ardas’ (prayer) at the Golden Temple here to make Punjab a drug-free state.

Led by Mann, the students took a pledge to stay away from drugs and live a healthy life. They also pledged to extend full support and cooperation to the government in its drive against drugs, according to an official release.

The chief minister was here to launch the Amritsar police’s ‘The Hope Initiative’ against the menace of drugs.

The schoolchildren wore yellow turbans, scarves and dupattas while offering prayers.

For ages, Harmandir Sahib has been a source of inspiration for humanity for every noble cause, said Mann.

The sole motive of this ‘ardas’ is to take the blessings of the Almighty for the success of this unique mission, which aims to eliminate the curse of drugs from the state, he said.

The participation of a large number of youths in this campaign shows that the younger generation is ready to support the state government in this noble cause, he added.

Besides the students, thousands of people joined the campaign and offered prayers online.

Mann said this is the first-of-its-kind mass movement against drugs which will break the backbone of this menace.

Under ‘The Hope Initiative’, a three-pronged strategy of pray, pledge and play is being used. As part of this, the culture of sports is being promoted in the state to channelise the unbounded energy of the youth in a positive manner, he said.

This is the first time that a campaign against drugs has been started from the grassroots level, he said.

There is a major thrust on providing jobs to the youth to make them active partners in the socio-economic development of the state, the chief minister said.

He said 2,100 posts in Punjab Police are being advertised every year for regular recruitment.

Punjab Police has launched a major crackdown against drugs in the state and smugglers are being put behind bars, Mann said.

On the one hand, the supply line of drugs is being snapped by putting drug peddlers behind bars and on the other hand, focus is being given on treatment and rehabilitation of the drug victims, he said.

Committees will be formed at rural and urban levels to generate awareness about the drug menace, he said.

This campaign will act as a catalyst in transforming Punjab into a drug-free and healthy state. The grave problem of drugs can only be overcome with the active support of the general public, which is the basis of this entire campaign, Mann said.

The chief minister further said that with the concerted efforts of his government, Punjab will soon emerge as a front-ranking state in the country in the field of sports.

Addressing a gathering during a cricket match organised as part of ‘The Hope Initiative’, Mann said the Punjab government has laid major thrust on the promotion of sports in the state.

The result of this is that Punjabis bagged 19 medals in the recently concluded Asian games, he said.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal said he was happy that the youth of Punjab came forward in such large numbers to make the state drug-free.