Shinda releases drugs awareness single
When it comes to raising awareness with the youth, there is one weapon more effective than almost any other and that is through music. Sukshinder Shinda releases his new single ‘Soorme Punjab De’ to highlight the drug addiction in Punjab, India, which will be released on 22 May 2014 on Dharam Seva Records.
“I really believe that music in general gives us the potential to inspire a change. This single was a way for me to highlight the awareness of the ever-growing drugs problem in Punjab, we need something fresh and relevant and that young people would actually identify with in order to prevent further escalation within the future generations,” said Sukshinder.
Population of Punjab has shown descent growth in the last 10 years. According to recent estimates, there are 28.8 million people living in Punjab, northern state of India. The scale of drug abuse became public in 2009 through a submission to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, secretary of the department of social security and women and child development in Chandigarh.
More than two thirds of the state’s rural household has at least one drug addict – a proportion that in 2014 may now be even higher. Today an estimated 66 per cent of Punjab’s youths are thought to be taking medical or synthetic drugs. In a state which has millions of drug addicts, there is an acute shortage of de-addiction and rehabilitation centres.
Sukshinder who was born and raised in Birmingham, UK is an international 
singer and music producer winning numerous awards and accolades across the globe performing on many of the biggest stages around the world. “I have been travelling to Punjab to perform live for a number of years now and this single is a way for me to raise the profile internationally of Punjab’s drugs problems. We all have a duty to help the ones less fortunate than us. Those that can’t help themselves can receive help and in turn, that can empower them to help others”. Says Sukshinder.
Drug abuse in Punjab owes much to the state’s declining agricultural economy, growing unemployment, the travails of rural life and Punjabi machismo.
According to the 2009 Punjab government affidavit, the use of alcohol and drugs has become a part of culture in the state. The yearly consumption of alcohol in Punjab is touching 29 Crore (1Crore = approx. 120,000) bottles making it one of the highest per capita consumers of alcohol in the world!
However, in the last two decades, the pattern of drug use has undergone a change in favor of new narcotic and synthetic drugs, with addicts now consuming multiple drugs. Today, Punjab is a primary gateway for drugs smuggled into India from Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The gravity of Punjab’s multi-faceted drug problem has long crossed its tipping point. But no figure of authority in the state seems to be interested in stemming its free fall.
Nonetheless, and perhaps not surprisingly, drug abuse does not find any mention in any of the manifestos being distributed by most of the political parties in 2014 – and many voters believe there is insufficient political will to tackle this scourge.
Soorme Punjab De is out now.
