Dr. Balbir bats for mass movement against substance abuse & skill development for rehabilitation
Chandigarh- In a bid to completely eradicate the drug menace from the state as mandated by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Monday reviewed the progress of ongoing Padyatras being organised in villages under Yudh Nasheyan Virudh 2.0. The Health Minister was chairing a meeting with Deputy Commissioners via video conference.
While emphasising the need for sustained community participation, Dr Balbir Singh stressed on making these padyatras impactful and inclusive, marking a shift from enforcement-led approach to a large-scale mass movement.
Highlighting the importance of empowering individuals for long-term recovery and social acceptance, Dr Balbir Singh directed all the Deputy Commissioners to collaborate with ITIs, Krishi Vikas Kendras, NGOs and industries to provide job-oriented skills training to individuals recovering from drug addiction. “Skill development and livelihood opportunities are crucial for successful rehabilitation and reintegration,” he stressed.
Dr Balbir Singh asked the Deputy Commissioners to ensure maximum mobilisation of communities for the padyatras, underlining that the campaign does not belong to any political party nor linked to electoral gains. “This initiative is about saving our future generations. For such a noble cause, we must rise above all political and other prejudices and work collectively to secure a drug-free Punjab,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of stigma reduction, the Minister stated that these padyatras form a vital component of the government’s Stigma Reduction initiative, as social stigma remains one of the biggest barriers preventing drug users from seeking help and rehabilitation. He called upon all sections of society to actively participate and convert this campaign into a mass movement.
The meeting was also attended by CEO, State Health Agency cum Nodal Officer, Mental Health Programme Sanyam Aggarwal, Director ESI Dr Anil Goyal and Deputy CEOs SHA Dr Jatinder Kansal and Dr Surinder Kaur among other senior officials.
