This Punjab farmer bats for cheaper intoxicant

AMRITSAR: A progressive farmer of Punjab is batting for a cheaper intoxicant over heroin and liquor. He has demanded from the state government for allowing the licensed cultivation of poppy for the production of opium in the state.
According to him opium is not only a cheaper substitute of expensive drugs but is a 'healthier intoxicant' with various medicinal properties.
Resident of Chohla Sahib in Tarn Taran district Baba Balkar Singh Dhillon told TOI on Monday that since all efforts, both of government and NGO's, have not yielded desirable results in their drug de-addiction drive so why not provide a cheap and healthier drug to the addicts. "Drug addicts still purchase liquor, smack, heroin and other harmful intoxicants and spend anything from around Rs 60 to Rs 1000 per day for their daily quota of drugs so why not provide them with a cheaper alternative which is times tested also" he said.
Emphasizing on the medicinal properties of opium he said that opium was cultivated for more than 5000 years for its use as medicine especially as a pain killer. He asked, "What is the harm in its legal cultivation?"
He informed that he has formed a 'Samaj Bachao Mission Committee, Punjab' and had enrolled more than 1.25 lakh members who also wanted state government to allow them legal poppy cultivation and licenses for selling opium.
"This is true that I am not asking people to leave drugs but to switch over to a cheaper and safe drug which will not only be beneficial for addicts but will also give an opportunity to the farmers of state to come out of vicious circle of wheat paddy cultivation," he said.
He said he had written letters to Prime Minister, chairman National Human Rights Commission, Punjab chief minister regarding his demand.
A close associate of Dhillon, Manjit Singh said that Balkar had spent around Rs 20 lakh alone on his advertisement campaign. He also distributed membership forms for Samaj Bhachao Mission Committee through advertisements.
Balkar Singh, a baptized Sikh who owns around 100 acres of land said he had surveyed the states where poppy cultivation was legal and have found that addicts who consume opium were less involved in crime than those who consume liquor.