Panaji: Citing peer pressure and stress as key factors for drug addiction, chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday urged youth to come forward and inform the police about drug peddlers and those consuming drugs.“I do not understand why today’s youth are going towards drugs. If you look, it is because of peer pressure and tension, and the third reason we find is the ‘just try once’ attitude. We must take a pledge that we will not fall into drugs, and if there is someone who consumes drugs, the message should be given to the police and to the authorities concerned,” Sawant said at the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) programme organised by the ministry of social justice and empowerment in collaboration with state govt at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium.Sawant said that drugs valued at several crores of rupees find their way into the state. “Various types of drugs are here. I saw these twice when we were destroying them. We seize the drugs and destroy them at the biomedical waste treatment plant at Kundaim. A video recording of the process is sent to the court,” he said.He said that the anti-narcotics cell (ANC) is working to ensure that Goa’s future generations are protected from the menace of drugs. He was addressing policymakers, youth, NGOs, and other stakeholders gathered at the event.Union minister for social justice and empowerment, Virendra Kumar, said the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan aims to safeguard the youth and strengthen families. Kumar also called for coordinated efforts among central and state govts, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, and community organisations.The chief minister said parents of addicts should not hesitate to approach de-addiction centres.
