Governor of Punjab Launches Six-Day Padyatra Against Drug Menace

Kartarpur, Punjab, India – In a bid to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and unite organizations working against the menace, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Thursday launched a six-day padyatra from the Kartarpur Corridor.

Addressing the gathering, Kataria emphasized that no government alone can eradicate drugs from the border state unless society joins hands with the administration and law enforcement agencies. Urging people to turn the fight against drugs into a “jan andolan” (public movement), he called for collective efforts to protect society, particularly the youth, from the perils of substance abuse.

The padyatra witnessed enthusiastic participation from hundreds of schoolchildren, who marched through the streets and markets of Kartarpur before concluding at St. Francis Convent School.

Punjab Needs Collective Effort to Overcome Drug Crisis

Kataria highlighted that while the drug problem exists across the country, Punjab has earned the unfortunate reputation of being the worst affected state. He stressed that the government and police alone cannot curb drug abuse, urging educationists, religious leaders, and intellectuals to take an active role in addressing the crisis.

Commending the Punjab Government’s recent anti-drug campaign, he reiterated the need to target major drug traffickers rather than just smaller offenders. He also pointed out that the Centre has been working since 2020 to make India drug-free but warned that young children, including girls, were increasingly falling prey to addiction.

Cross-Border Smuggling via Drones a Major Concern

During his visit to border villages, Kataria observed that drug smuggling from Pakistan using drones remains a serious challenge. Calling it a “narco-terror conspiracy”, he accused Pakistan of attempting to weaken India’s youth by flooding the region with narcotics.

He revealed that the Centre has provided 23 additional anti-drone systems to the BSF, while the Punjab Government has also allocated funds to strengthen security measures. However, despite joint efforts by the Army, BSF, and local authorities, the issue persists.

Call for a Unified Fight Against Drugs

Speaking to the media, Kataria emphasized that the Punjab Government alone cannot tackle the drug crisis. He noted that while several NGOs and organizations have been working on the issue, the padyatra aims to bring all stakeholders onto a common platform.

“With collective effort, we hope to achieve success in this mission soon,” he stated.