Punjab’s War on Drugs

Why in news?

Amid a new wave of political churn against the government for failing to curtail drugs, the Punjab CM has sought to enhance punishment for offenders.

How has the Punjab government’s crackdown on drugs progressed?

• In accordance with his campaign, immediately after assuming office, Punjab CM set up a “Special Task Force” (STF) against drugs.
• STF began by arresting thousands of peddlers.
• Within four weeks, the CM and the STF chief announced that the pre-election promise had been fulfilled, and supplies choked.
• Notably, the last one year has seen the “arrest of 19,000 drug peddlers and treatment of more than 2 lakh drug victims”.
• Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has also been involved in many cases with over 4,000 convictions already secured under the act.
• Additionally, over 5,600 NDPS cases are under trial, and Punjab has recorded an impressive 82% conviction rate under NDPS. 

What are the recent developments?

• Protests - Despite the initial intensive crackdown, the drug problem seems to persisting in Punjab, and reports actually suggesting an increase in drug abuse.
• A video of a woman wailing next to the body of her son who lies in a heap of garbage with a syringe still stuck in his veins has created a sensation.
• Allegedly, there has also been a spurt in drug-related deaths, which is causing a political churn, with opposition parties voicing against the government.
• While the government is believed to be under-reporting drug related deaths due to immense pressure, it has nonetheless asserted a stern crackdown.
• Reaction - Punjab CM has written to the union government, seeking to enhance punishment under the NDPS Act to deter drug abuse.
• He has sought to bring in the death penalty for first-time offenders, besides declaring that government employees must undergo drug screening.
• But a previous Bombay High Court judgement had held death penalty under NDPS Act as unconstitutional, thereby making the CM’s demand look naive.

What are the important initiatives to curtail the drug menace?

• DAPO Project - In March, the government launched “Drug Abuse Prevention Officer” (DAPO) project, a community participation programme.
• Thousands volunteered registered as DAPOs to raise awareness and the government also leveraged its 3.5 lakh officials as DAPOs.  
• The effectiveness of the exercise is yet to be evaluated.
• Buddy Project - The Special Task Force (STF) designed a “buddy project”, aiming to include all schools and colleges for student awareness.
• It has been launched in some areas and STF officers say it will soon be extended across the state and encompasses parents and teachers too.
• OOAT Program - Health department has opened about 81 “Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment” (OOAT) clinics for opium and heroin addicts.
• This program is running since May and addicts are for the time-being given buprenorphine (an opioid substitute).
• Confiscation Act - Last year, the Cabinet had decided to enact the “Confiscation of Drug Dealers Property Act”.
• This could not take off as the home department informed the CMO that a similar provision already exists under the NDPS Act.

What are the challenges that the STF is facing?

• The STF was to directly report to the CM’s office, overlooking the State DGP and other police hierarchy.
• This created some tussle, which reached its peak when the STF questioned an SP and also arrested a police inspector on drug charges.
• These skirmishes visibly slowed down STF’s work and subsequently it was place back within the police hierarchy (reporting to the DGP).
• Earlier this year, the government issued a notification to exclude STF from the RTI, as it was facing pressure to release sensitive information.
• STF also had to face political headwinds as it had to inquire into the alleged involvement of an ex-minister from the SAD party in a drug mesh.

Source: Indian Express