Chandigarh, June 26
The only way to keep youth away from drugs is to involve them into physical activity and to achieve it sports should be made mandatory at the school and college level resolved Sports Associations & Eminent Sports Personalities here today at Round Table Conference organized by Joshi Foundation on the topic ‘Drug Menace in Chandigarh, Exploring Solutions’.
For the first time in the history of the Chandigarh, the Joshi Foundation brought together twenty eight sports associations of Chandigarh, UT Sports Department, Directorate of Sports Panjab University and UT Education Department on a single platform to voice the awareness on the Anti Drug Campaign today.
The event organized on International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was graced by presence of Former Union Minister Vijay Sampla, Former Chief secretary Punjab Sarvesh Kaushal, SP (operations),Chandigarh Police Ms. Niharika Bhatt, Director, Dept. Of Sports PU Chandigarh Dr. Parminder Singh, Jt. Director Sports, UT Sports Dept. Chandigarh Dr. Mohinder Singh, Chairman, Joshi Foundation Vineet Joshi and president Joshi Foundation Saurabh Joshi.
International skater Aryanpal Singh, International chess player Tarini Goyal, International bodybuilder Hardeep Singh Malhi and international Badminiton Player Oscar Bansal also attended the event. The players shared their experience of staying away from drugs by focusing their concentration on sports activates. Their achievements were appreciated by all present.
While interacting, the gathering also floated various ideas on how sports activities can be used in order to ensure youngsters on the right track of living of their life. Saturday should be fixed as weekly sports day, open Gyms in institutes, yoga should be made mandatory in daily morning prayers, monthly intra house sports competition, mandatory fitness test, schools and community centers should be opened for neighborhood sports in the evening, annual sports, etc, opined the participants at Anti Drug meet.
While talking on the occasion, Sampla insisted on the need of having proper set up to attract the youngsters towards sports. “Parents should ensure that their children opt for sports in the school,” said Sampla.
IPS Niharika Bhatt, who reached here on behalf of the DGP Chandigarh Police Sanjay Beniwal, also raised an important concern of youth’s involvement in shaping up the society, “Sports is the best way to keep youth away from drugs,” .
Talking on the behalf of the organisers Vineet Joshi, founder of Joshi Foundation mentioned the need of involving rural population in curbing down the drug menace.“ All the suggestions given by the conference will be presented to Governor Punjab and administrator UT Chandigarh for action,” said Joshi
