In a move aimed at checking the entry of drug addicts in the state government services, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today made it mandatory to clear ‘Dope Test’ during the recruitment process in all departments of the state government.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister while presiding over a meeting here to review the arrangements for Drug de—addiction and Rehabilitation of drug addicts in the state, an official release said.

Taking part in deliberations, the Chief Minister, as per the release, said that the necessary amendments must be made in the existing rules to incorporate necessary provisions in them for ensuring that any person selected for the government service must clear the ‘Dope Test’ during his Medical test.

He said that if the report of ‘Dope Test’ of any aspirant was found positive then he/she must be debarred from joining the government service.

Badal said that this would not only encourage the youth to shun away the menace of drugs but it would also ensure that Healthy officers/officials join the service in the future.

“This is the need of the hour so as to combat the menace of drugs in a more effective manner,” he added.

Badal asked the Divisional Commissioners present in the meeting to personally visit the Drug de—addiction centres falling in their jurisdiction to have first hand information about the working of these centres.

He said that effective monitoring of these centres was very important so that drug addicts could be imparted quality treatment and diagnostic facilities.

The Chief Minister also asked the officers to appoint a Nodal Officer to monitor the day—to—day functioning of these centres besides maintaining proper record for this.

He asked the officers of the state government to explore the feasibility of maintaining a centralised database of the all the drug de—addiction centres so as to check the misuse of medicines by the drug addicts.

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