Once known for it’s sporting culture and producing highest number of medal winners, Punjab is fast loosing ground in nurturing young talent. In recent Birmingham Commonwealth games, Punjab athletes did not win even a single gold medal. The best by a Punjab athlete was a silver. It’s neighbouring state Haryana won 19 gold medals, highest by any state. Deplorable sports infrastructure in the state and inadequate support by state government are the main reasons for this decline. Recently concluded Khelo India medals tally speaks it loud and clear with Punjab placed at disappointing rank 9.
A recent government study suggests that more than 8,60,000 young men in the state between ages of 15 to 35 take some form of drug. One estimate says that more than 2/3rd of Punjab’s households have at least one addict in the family. Drug consumption is 3 times the national average.
Manjit Kaur, a mother of three sons all lost to drugs now, is inconsolable. Lack of opportunities and more importantly, hope pushed her sons into drugs. Drug abuse is a raging epidemic and has shaken the entire society in the state which stares at losing an entire generation to drugs.
But why are the youth of Punjab so susceptible to drugs. Drugs consumption in Punjab is three times the national average. Agriculture which brought the state its wealth, is stagnating and with little industrialisation, there is high rate of unemployments.