On 26th June International Day against Drug Abuse
26th June International Day against Drug Abuse
Is taking oath by all Punjab Govt. employees not to consume drugs is legally valid?
26th June is celebrated as International Day against drug abuse and according to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Efforts against illicit drugs must be connected to our work to promote opportunities through equitable and sustainable development. We must continually strive to make the weak and fragile stronger.
The theme given for 2015 is – Let’s develop, our lives, our communities, our identities – without drugs.
The story of Punjab on drug addicts is an open book now with the registration of number of cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act. Besides smuggling of drugs along the Indo-Pak border, the liquor consumption in the state is on the higher side every year.
On the one hand, the Punjab Government is making all out efforts to make Drug-free State but it looks to be hollow, unless and until there is a complete ban on liquor. Every year government is making increase in opening of liquor vends which has put a big question mark on the intentions of the government.
On this international day, the Punjab Government has issued instructions to all the heads of departments to celebrate this day by organizing seminar over an oath ceremony. It is not understood as to how the government can force its employees legally to stop consuming liquor when it itself has opened about 10000 liquor outlets. It would be better if the government close down these vends if it really wants to make Punjab a drug free state. Is organizing such seminars for taking pledge from employees has any legal standing in the eyes of law? Will the government be taking any action against the employee found consuming drugs? These are the questions for which the government has hardly any answer and celebrating such day will be a part of rituality.
In the instructions issued by Family and Health Welfare Department, it is clearly written that neither I will consume nor I will assist any other person for drugs. Not only this, it has also been desired that the names of the employees participating in the oath taking ceremony along with their photographs be sent by 30th June.
When contacted, Raj Kishore Kalra, an educationist and social worker, he said, the government has fixed a target of increase of income to the extent of Rs.5100 crore during the current financial year 2015-16 against only Rs.33 crore during the previous year. Thus the consumption of liquor bottles will go upto 40 crore which comes to around 13 bottle person of 2.77 crore population of the state. Apart from this, the illegal sale of spurious and cheap liquor in the villages by the Liquor Mafia cannot be ruled out.
As per the information, the government has taken the decision to run the affairs of education, health and Gau Commission from the tax levied on liquor. Even the Panchayats who are not willing for opening of liquor vends in their villages are being forced to open to increase the sale.
Frankly speaking, almost every political leader has raised the issue of intoxicant consumption in Punjab ruining the future of the youths. While CM is terming such allegations as an attempt to malign the Punjab youth where as the factual position is otherwise.
The celebrations of International Day against Drug Abuse depend upon decreasing the consumption of liquor and not increasing its sale. There is a need to join hands by all social, religious and political organizations at one plat form to take the Punjab towards development and make the drug free state.
