Helping the youth ‘gone astray’

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 23

Three years ago she Sukhdeep Kaur left her job to counsel youngsters who are into drugs going through difficult phase of their lives.

Sukhdeep Kaur, who is devoting her life for a cause, is presently working as a counselor at Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle.

The study circle puts their stall at medical camps that are organised by the Health Department and motivate youngsters to oSukhdeep Kaur left her job to counsel youngsters to leave drugs vercome their fears about drugs.

“I was teaching at a local school for the past 17 years, when I came across Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle. I was really impressed by the noble work the institution was doing in helping the youth in coming out of drugs. I was so impressed by their work that I left my job and joined them,” she said.

Sukhdeep is not a doctor but she can counsel well. “I had been a teacher and I knew how to make a point clear to a person on the other end. I counsel people coming to our centre as a friend, philosopher and guide and encourage them to shun drugs for a healthy life,” she said.

She said four to five people come to their centre for counseling every day. “The age group of people coming to us is between 18 and 25 years. We advise them to throw out drugs from their lives and tell them how they are ruining their lives. We also advise them regarding the treatment options available and suggest drug de-addiction centres across Punjab,” she said.

She said a few years ago, Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle used to run “Aas Kiran Drug de-addiction centre”, which eventually had to be closed down as the grant given to it by the Central government stopped coming.

“On the one side, government says it is committed to keeping society free from drugs and on the other side, the drug de-addiction centres are shutting down for want of funds. Government should work towards it and start releasing grants to drug de-addiction centres,” she said.

She said a majority of youth that come to them belong to rural areas. “They start drugs just for fun. Worst affected are their families, who also suffer along with those who are into drugs,” she said.

The study circle goes to villages and educates youngsters and also distributes free literature to them regarding the same. In addition to this, they also participate in medical camps that are organised by the Health Department.

“I am trying whatever I can by educating the youth against drugs. My only purpose in life is to help the youth who have gone astray from their path,” she said.