Unemployment major reason of growing drug addiction among youth in J&K: Sahni
Top News Report
JAMMU, Sep 18: Expressing serious concern over the growing attraction towards drugs among the youth of the state, the Shiv Sena Jammu and Kashmir unit vowed to make Jammu and Kashmir drug-free and will invoke every possible effort to keep the youth away from drug addiction.
In this context, Manish Sahni, J&K President Shiv Sena asked the Hookah bars owners running their shops secretly in the city, which are making youth victims of drugs under the guise of herbal hookah, to immediately shut their shops. He warned that if they would not consider his advise then the Shiv Sena will uproot them.
Sahni also appealed to the youth to stay away from drugs. He said that most of the youths do not even know when they get addicted to hookah while consuming hookah just for the thrill. Surprisingly, these hookah bars are running indiscriminately under the nose of the police. It is not an exaggeration to call those who are the first step towards attraction towards drugs, he said.
Sahni warned that the government and the police administration should immediately shut down these illegal hookah bars, otherwise the Shiv Sena will itself uproot them to save the younger generation from drowning in the throes of drugs. Because the growing trend of hookah bars is playing a big role in pushing the younger generation towards drugs, he asserted.
Sahni said that the drug trade in Jammu and Kashmir is growing with every passing day. Referring to a report by AIIMS and National Drug Dependence Treatment Center (NDDTC), Sahni said that Jammu and Kashmir has become a drug hub. There are about 6 lakh young drug addicts here and out of these, 90 per cent are in the age group of 17-33.
Sahni also cited the ever-increasing unemployment is also one of the main reasons. He said that Jammu and Kashmir stands at the first position among the 5 states with the highest unemployment rate in the country. “Due to lack of employment, easily available intoxicants are taking hold of the youth who are distraught. The government is merely fulfilling its woes by expressing concern by ignoring its root causes. On the other hand, drug mafia is spreading its feet very fast,” he added.
Sahni appealed to his Shiv Sainiks engaged in public as well as social service in the border areas to keep a close watch on drug smugglers and inform the police administration. He said that the Temple City will never be allowed to become a den of liquor and hookah bars. On this occasion president mehila wing Meenakshi Chibber, Gen secretary Vikas Bakshi, prabhari Ashwani Prabhakar , presiden district Udhampur Sanjeev Sharma , president Samba Neelam Samyal , Vice president Natwar Lal , Vishal , Rajinder Singh, Geeta Lakhotra, Dimple , Ashok , Arun Singh , Kamal Bhatti , Vijay Manyal and many others were present.