Punjab CM announces drives against drugs by involving students
Ludhiana, Aug 15: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday announced special drives against the drug menace in the state by involving students, besides launching the second phase of a loan waiver scheme for farmers.
Speaking during Independence Day celebrations organised at the Guru Nanak Stadium here, the Chief Minister launched 'Tu Mera Buddy' programme to take the war against drugs to schools and colleges.
He called upon the people to take a pledge to wipe out the menace of drugs from the state to secure the healthy future of the coming generation.
Lauding the results of police's Special Task Force to check drug abuse in the state, the Chief Minister said 'Tu Mera Buddy' would further take the campaign to the grassroots.
The buddy project will be led by class teachers and will be supervised by principals and district education officers.
The Chief Minister reiterated his government's zero tolerance against drugs and warned that those involved in exploiting and ruining the youth would not be spared.
Nearly 20,000 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act, involving about 22,000 drug peddlers and distributors, while the state is working to ensure forfeiture of illegally acquired property of drug traders and to secure death penalty for them, said the Chief Minister.
Expressing satisfaction over the positive results of 118 Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) Clinics started in the State for regular treatment of addicts, the Chief Minister said another 80 such clinics would be set up by September.
He said 26,000 addicts have been treated so far in these clinics and the OPD footfall has been more than 5.3 lakh.
Unveiling the Bhai Ghanhya Sehat Sewa Scheme, the Chief Minister handed over cards to some of the beneficiaries of the scheme, aimed at providing cashless healthcare facilities and treatment to members of the cooperative societies and their families across the state.
Every beneficiary is entitled to cashless treatment up to Rs 2 lakh on family floater basis in any approved hospital and on reimbursement basis in any government hospital in Punjab.
Launching the second phase of the debt waiver scheme, the Chief Minister handed over waiver certificates to 10 farmers to extend to them the benefit of outstanding loan waiver of commercial banks up to Rs 2 lakh.
The debt waiver scheme would cover crop loan disbursed to farmers by scheduled commercial banks, cooperative credit institutions, including urban cooperative banks and regional rural banks, collectively called as the lending institutions'.
The Chief Minister said these farmers were expected to be provided total relief of Rs 1,000 crore.
In order to manage the crop residue, the Chief Minister kickstarted a scheme to provide subsidised agri machinery, which would be helpful to curb the trend of stubble burning.
Singh earlier unfurled the national flag at the event where more than 2,000 students participated.
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PM Modi speaks to Iranian president, discusses 'serious' situation in West Asia
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the "serious situation" in West Asia.
Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.
The prime minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities.
“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister also reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability and urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis.
The prime minister had spoken to leaders of several West Asian countries in the last 10 days in the wake of the coordinated offensive launched against Iran by the United States and Israel, in which the Islamic country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed last month.
In retaliation, Iran has fired drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf region, including the global business and aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha.
Modi earlier spoke to the leaders of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Israel and Qatar, and expressed concern over the attacks on their countries, and condemned the violation of some nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community residing in those countries.
Around 1 crore Indians live in the Gulf and West Asia. While about 10,000 Indian citizens live, study and work in Iran, more than 40,000 live in Israel.
