Bhairahawa, Apr. 4: Home Minister for Lumbini Province Santosh Kumar Pandey has said that collective efforts are needed to control drug abuse. 

Minister Pandey said that everyone’s role and cooperation were important for the reduction of drug addiction and its complete control.

Minister Pandey made this remark while speaking at an awareness-generating programme on reducing drug addiction organised by the Home Ministry of Lumbini Province in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, on Wednesday. 

He said that awareness programmes organised by the government alone would not be enough to reduce drug addiction and everyone should play their role in their respective field. 

He said, “Now it is necessary to organise such awareness-generating programmes in the rural areas.” 

Minister Pandey said that through such programmes, society could be reformed and people who are on the wrong path could be brought to the right path.

He said, “The role of youth is important in bringing about change in the country. If the youth who are addicted to drugs are rehabilitated in society and put on the right path, they can be used for development.” 

Minister Pandey said that there was a tendency to think that the people living abroad have a better life than the people living in Nepal and serving in various positions.

Minister Pandey, who is also the Spokesperson for the Lumbini Province government, urged the stakeholders to understand that the present generation is the first to face the problem and challenge of drug addiction.

He said that the Buddha, who was born in Lumbini, succeeded in making Nepal known to the world by spreading the message of peace and that the Buddha was not only a person but also an ideology. Minister Pandey said that people born in the holy land of Lumbini could establish themselves by doing different things. 

He said that he has reached the place of becoming a minister by doing small jobs in the society. He said that the world is in an economic crisis and Nepal cannot remain aloof from it, so negative thinking should be removed.

Likewise, Constituent Assembly member and former Mayor of Siddharthnagar Municipality, Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan said that especially the youth were prone to becoming victims of drug addiction. 

Mayor Khan said that the local government, security agencies, various organisations and civil society are working hard to reduce drug abuse in the province. 

He urged the youth to associate with good people as they are the leaders of tomorrow.