MAKING PUNJAB FREE OF DRUG MENACE WILL BE REAL TRIBUTE TO MARTYRS, SAYS HEALTH MINISTER DR BALBIR SINGH

— Punjab government to open 'Parivartan Kendras' to reform drug victims

— Health Minister calls upon people to form ‘Sehat Committees’ in their areas

— Hundreds of youth participate in Walkathon and Cycle rally dedicated to Birth Anniversary of Martyr Kartar Singh Sarabha 

Chandigarh/Sarabha (Ludhiana), May 24: In order to make the state a Rangla Punjab as per vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Wednesday on the occasion of Birth Anniversary of Martyr Kartar Singh Sarabha vowed to make Punjab free of drug menace. 

    "It would be the real tribute to Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha if we could eradicate drug menace from the state,” said the Health Minister, while paying floral tributes to the Martyr at his village Sarabha in Ludhiana.

    Terming that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government has already been making relentless efforts in this direction, Dr Balbir Singh said that the drug menace was a serious hurdle in realizing the dream of our forefathers who had fought bravely for the freedom of the country. The time has come when the war against drugs was transformed into a mass movement to ensure that Punjab was free of drugs, he added. 

    He said that the Punjab government would open 'Parivartan Kendras' throughout the state where drug victims will be treated, counselled, and rehabilitated. “We will ensure to provide them training for various trades so that they could become self-dependent,” he said. Apart from this, Sehat Committees would be formed which will be tasked to keep vigil on drug menace in their areas, he said. 

    Dr Balbir Singh said that Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha was the youngest martyr of the country, who attained martyrdom at the age of 19 years. He said that the sacrifice made by the martyr Kartar Singh Sarabha would ever act as a beacon to inspire the youth to serve the nation. 

    He also recalled that our great freedom fighters made supreme sacrifices for the betterment of coming generations and to ensure holistic progress of the country and the state. “We should make strenuous efforts to cherish the aspirations of our freedom fighters,” he said. He also assured to resolve all the issues raised by the local people. 

    Raikot MLA Hakam Singh Thekedar also addressed the gathering and said the Punjab government is committed to transform the state into Rangla Punjab by eliminating social maladies like drug abuse. 

    Markfed Chairman Amandeep Singh Mohi called for a mass awareness drive among youths against drugs. 

Earlier, the cabinet minister also offered garland on the statue of the martyr and inaugurated a blood camp in his memory. 

    On the occasion, the district administration also organised a Walkathon and Cycle rally to commemorate the birth anniversary of Kartar Singh Sarabha and hundreds of students of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha Group of Medical Institutes participated in the event. 

    Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included District Planning Board head Sharanpal Singh Makkar, AAP leaders Dr KNS Kang, Ahbab Grewal, Harbhupinder Singh Dharaur, Additional Deputy Commissioner Major Amit Sareen, Civil Surgeon Dr Hitinder Kaur and Col (retd) Mandip Singh Grewal.

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