New Delhi, 3 December (H.S.):

Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Wednesday criticised the Punjab government during the Zero Hour session, alleging that its drug de-addiction centres have become hotspots of drug trafficking rather than rehabilitation. She said despite the state spending crores on advertisements, its anti-drug efforts have yielded no tangible results.

Maliwal referred to an Enforcement Directorate raid conducted in July this year, which uncovered that as many as 22 de-addiction centres in Punjab were allegedly being used to supply narcotics. “The Punjab government is spending crores on large hoardings and promotional campaigns while the state remains deeply engulfed in the drug menace,” she remarked on the floor of the House.

The MP urged the Centre to ensure that funds allocated for drug rehabilitation are used for their intended purpose. She demanded strict oversight to guarantee that these de-addiction centres truly serve their original goal of freeing youth from substance abuse.

Responding to her concerns, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment B.L. Verma acknowledged the gravity of Punjab’s drug problem. He stated that his ministry acts as the nodal agency for drug de-addiction across the country and runs several such centres nationwide.

Verma also admitted that drug usage is prevalent within prisons and revealed that ten de-addiction centres have been established across all central jails in Punjab. Addressing Maliwal’s remarks, he assured that the central government will review Punjab’s situation and take concrete steps to resolve the expanding crisis of drug addiction in the state.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar