"Punjab: The enemy within" documentary screened at Chandigarh Press Club

"Punjab: The enemy within" documentary screened at Chandigarh Press Club
Punjab Newsline Network
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/6388/38/

Sunday, 04 November 2007 CHANDIGARH: A documentary film "Punjab: The Enemy Within" was Sunday screened to an select audience including few journalists. Majority of media was kept away from the show.

The documentary takes the rampant menace of drug by horns. This documentary was first premiered in Los Angeles in 2006. Without blaming anyone the aim of movie, is to generate awareness in minds of addicts, police officials, couriers of drugs, vendors who have set up stalls. It is also meant to sensitize the general population of Punjab as to how drugs are all set to wipe out generations and leave youth virtually crippled.

It features people from all walks of life associated with the problem – addicts, state police, people working on de-addiction and those creating awareness at the grass root level. The movie calls upon for an integrated approach of all three states – Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

Editor-in-chief, HK Dua was the chief guest at occasion. He called for a multi-pronged approached to solve the problem. He said that sensitizing youth was need of hour, which can save generations to come.

The screening was followed by a panel discussion. Panelists included Tejinder Walia (a self-confessed drug addict for 23 years, who is on path of de-addiction for last eight years), Dr Jitendra Jain (DIG Bathinda working extensively on this issue), Dr Deepinder Singh (has worked with UNODC projects on addiction), Prabhjot Singh (bureau chief The Tribune) and the filmmaker Reema Ananad.

All experts of the view as to catch the young children, who can be saved from getting into clutches of this menace. It was also emphasized that an addict cannot be changed without bringing a change in atmosphere that surrounds him or her. Need for inculcating values in children right from the beginning.

Even the Punjabi songs, aired on TV, were held responsible for glorifying the drug addicts and sending messages that addicts get the best in world from car to relation.

Panelists were of the view that when national policies for AIDS, education and other issues have been drafted, why not have a national policy to counter drug abuse. Audience opined that forthcoming MP elections in Punjab will witness a heavy inflow of drugs and both addicts and peddlers will have a busy time. They proposed special check on inflow of this thing in Punjab.