Punjab drug war, jobs record under scanner as NAPA seeks white papers

Chandigarh: The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) on Wednesday asked Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to make public comprehensive and independently verifiable reports on the government's performance in tackling the drug menace and providing jobs to unemployed youth.

In a letter to Mann, NAPA Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal demanded that the state government publish two detailed white papers containing facts, figures and measurable outcomes on the two issues.

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Chahal said the drug problem cannot be declared solved through slogans, advertisements or press conferences and sought a complete account of the results of the government's anti-drug campaign.

"The people of Punjab deserve to know the results of the government's much-publicised war against drugs," he said.

NAPA sought details on the number of drug trafficking networks dismantled, quantity of narcotics seized, cases resulting in convictions and action taken against the financial networks of drug traffickers.

It also asked the government to provide data showing whether the availability of illegal drugs has actually declined at the grassroots level.

The organisation further sought transparency on drug rehabilitation, saying arrests and seizures alone cannot constitute a comprehensive anti-drug policy.

The government should disclose the number of people who received treatment, those who completed rehabilitation and measures in place to prevent relapse and help recovering persons return to normal life, Chahal said.

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On employment, he said Punjab's youth also deserved a transparent account of the government's record.

"Every announcement of a recruitment drive should not automatically be presented as a job created. There is a fundamental difference between announcing vacancies, conducting recruitment, issuing appointment letters and actually providing a stable livelihood," Chahal said.

NAPA demanded year-wise and department-wise figures on jobs actually filled, permanent and contractual appointments, vacancies advertised, recruitments completed and appointments pending.

It also sought details of employment generated through government-supported private-sector projects and skill-development programmes.

Chahal said the proposed white papers would enable people to independently assess the government's claims and determine the actual progress made on drugs and employment.

He urged the government to make the data public and subject it to independent verification to ensure greater transparency and accountability.