Kalam for comprehensive solution to drug addiction among youth

New Delhi, Mar 25 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam today stressed on the need for finding a comprehensive solution for preventing youth of the country from getting exposed to narcotics drugs and psychotropic substances (NDPS), which he said could have a long term effect on their mental and physical health.

Addressing the inaugural session of the regional seminar and workshop-cum-training programme on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, Dr Kalam suggested deterrent punishment as one of the solutions to deal with the problem and in this regard cited the example of many nations where exemplary punishment is prescribed for preventing the youth from getting exposed to NDPS.

He also voiced the need for an amendment in the NDPS Act to deal with the problem effectively and quickly.

He called upon the political leaders, law enforcement agencies, judiciary, teachers and parents for their effective participation in instilling in the youth a value that may drive them away from the menace of drug abuse.

Dr Kalam also suggested participation in religious activities by youth in particular, which may create an enlightened society, which has three components - education with value system, religion transforming into spirituality and economic development for removing the societal inequality.

He administered oath to all the students attending the seminar and exhorted them to be away from drug abuse and make their country great.

The regional seminar and workshop-cum-training programme was organised by the Delhi High Court in collaboration with the Delhi Government.

Chief Justice of India Y K Sabharwal presided over the function while Union Law Minister H R Bhardwaj and Lieutenant Governor B L Joshi were guests of honour.

Addressing the gathering, the Union Law Minister stressed ther need for having a revamped mechanism for investigation, prosecution and administration of criminal justice. He stressed on the requirement of an independent prosecuting agency to effectively deal with offenses relating to drug trafficking.

Justice Sabharwal said in spite of presence of legal enactments, the administration of legal justice had not been able to contain the menace of drug trafficking, which is acquiring gigantic proportions.

UNI AR SC BD2012