In a move long awaited, the Congress party-led Punjab government has made it mandatory for all government employees including the new recruits to undergo an annual drug test to stem the rising tide of drug abuse in the northern Indian state.
As per the order issued by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, all staffers ranging from the state’s cops to clerks will be screened during the time of recruitment, promotion as well as the annual medical test required for some employees depending on the nature of their responsibilities.
However, the government has not divulged the details of the nature of disciplinary action that would be taken against those who would test positive.
The order came a day after Mr Singh’s administration communicated its decision to the central government seeking to introduce death penalty for first-time drug smugglers and peddlers too.
Currently, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, death penalty is awarded only to serial drug offenders that too in certain cases.
While the move was largely applauded, a leader from Mr Singh’s own party contended that the chief minister must also make a provision to include politicians in the list of staffers to undergo compulsory dope test to avoid “unreasonable classification” between the two categories of public employees.
Meanwhile, upping the ante against drug menace and to silence his critics who have been daring him to take the test himself, Mr Singh said he was “ready to take the dope test and stand for what I believe is right.”
He further clarified that he has no intention of forcing his fellow legislators to take the test but would rather leave it to their discretion.
Dr Jagdeep Brar who runs a private drug de-addiction centre in Amritsar city, however feels the move is not enough.
Speaking with SBS Punjabi, Dr Brar said, "The drug war must be fought on many fronts at the same time. Mandatory dope test though is a good step, the state needs to concentrate on cutting the supply chain. These drugs streaming into our lives are a foreign import. Coordinated efforts at the highest levels of the federal government and not the state alone, are needed to achieve success".
The drug war must be fought on many fronts at the same time. Mandatory dope test though is a good step, the state needs to concentrate on cutting the supply chain.- Dr Jadeep Brar
Captain Amarinder Singh who had pledged to rid the state of drugs within four weeks of assuming power in the run-up to 2017 state polls, has been facing criticism for not doing his bid especially in the light of a recent spurt in drug related deaths.
At least 23 people most of them young men have died in the month of June alone in the state due to drug overdose.
