Police make a seizure of drugs. The use of heroin among 15-25-year-olds is as high as 75%.
To counter the drug menace in Punjab, a state BJP leader has suggested that drug tests be made mandatory for all students above class 8. The matter looks set to add fuel to the Akali-BJP row over drugs.
Vineet Joshi, who has submitted the memorandum to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, told NDTV that addicts mostly being young people, screening at schools and colleges will help.
"If they need to have their health check-up including urine and blood tests at time of admission, definitely we will be able to check this problem," he said.
While Akali Dal ministers are not prepared to take the proposal seriously, the BJP ministers are considering its viability and the possible methods of implementation.
Secondary Education Minister DS Cheema said, "It has become a fashion to speak about drugs these days. We have around 55 lakh students in the state, but there is no problem of drugs in any of the schools which I have encountered.'
But BJP's MM Mittal, Minister for Technical Education, said it was necessary to check out the viability of the suggestion. "I have marked the application to my department to see and prepare a roadmap on how far we can go to implement it," said.
Government data suggests as many as 67% of rural households have at least one addict. In some areas, the use of heroin among 15-25-year-olds is as high as 75%.
"Drugs are definitely a problem in schools. If the government can't test all, at least it should be done randomly," said Surjit Singh, Joint Secretary of the Punjab Teacher's Union.
Earlier this month, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal held multiple protest rallies near the border, demanding that the Centre keep greater vigilance to tackle the flow of narcotics into the state from Pakistan.
One of the rallies was led by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who even reportedly said neighbouring Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh - both BJP-ruled states -- were cultivating drugs.