The Hindu Business Line : Are we doing enough to renew our farmers' faith in life?

Story so far: While talking to a colleague of mine, I learn that she is worried about her son. Contrary to what I think, her concern is not about his studies, but that he doesn't get into drugs. Are there any telltale signs that could alert parents to a possible addiction problem that their sons or daughters may be getting into, I wonder?

Episode 135

The question that appeared on June 26 was about the killer menace called drugs. Quite apt, I learnt later, when watching a special programme on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which fell on that date. The theme this year is "drugs are not child's play", as you can check on www.unodc.org, the site of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

"The latest estimates indicate that 200 million people, or 5 per cent of the global population aged 15-64, have consumed illicit drugs at least once in the last 12 months," reads an alarming statistic on the page. "Parents, siblings and other family members can ensure that a child's home is a safe environment and that children are aware of the dangers associated with drug abuse. Teachers and social workers also have a role to play by watching out for warning signs and taking measures to address any drug-related problems," advises UNODC.

Providing children with information on the health risks linked to drug abuse and also giving them a forum to discuss the issue openly are practical measures. "Studies show that people who start smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol at a young age are much more likely to experiment with illegal drugs than people who do not smoke or drink," says the UN.

Sport is a good way of teaching healthy life skills to young people, says Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the Office. "We want kids to be shooting hoops on the basketball court, not shooting heroin in a back alley."

In response to a mail that I sent to Central Narcotics Bureau, Singapore, I have received a link to their site www.cnb.gov.sg. `What Drives Kids To Drugs? How to act before it is too late?' reads a page. `Reach Your Kids Before Drugs Do,' it urges. Among the many ideas it offers is this: "Teach your child to say `no' to drugs." This you can do by knowing the facts, and supporting your views with current information. "Kids respect credible sources. Talk calmly and openly. Discuss the facts about drugs frankly and without anger. Don't exaggerate the facts because they are frightening enough by themselves. With older children, share your ideas, feelings and values."

The World Service Office of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) too has been responsive to my request for info, though the mail I've received oddly wraps with what may be a routine line, `We send you our very best wishes in your ongoing recovery and service efforts.' Sridhar of the local NA has sent in a mail with helpful URLs, such as www.angelfire.com/in/chennai, www.addictions.org/signs.htm and www.acde.org/parent/signs.htm.

"Signs change according to the drug that is abused," says Sridhar. "The street (illicit) drugs that are usually abused in Chennai are brown sugar and cannabis (marijuana). Cocaine is common among party-hoppers of the higher strata." His mail lists the names of many sedatives, anti-depressants and injectible drugs, but he cautions: "It is generally suggested we do not provide the names of the pharmaceutical drugs abused, as it might counter our message and might widen the options of the drug-users with addictive patterns."

Sridhar informs that NA is a non-profit fellowship or society of men and women to whom drugs had become a major problem. "We meet regularly to help each other stay clean." Thanks Sridhar.

Human beings indulge in smoking, drinking or drugs when they feel they are neglected, reasons Mamata Hardikar. "They turn to these initially as an experiment. Then, they turn more daring for the kicks they derive. Sooner rather than later, they are enslaved by the habit and then there is no going back. In my opinion, to minimise the chances of children falling into this trap, parents need to spend time with them, understand their need to be heard, give them the discretion to distinguish between the right and no-so-right, be their friend and, last but not the least, be patient with them. Although it is easier said than done, prevention is better than cure. Parents can avoid being worried about children getting into trouble, by empowering them to live healthily." Very true, Mamata.

A mail from Nitin J. Shetty, a CA and past chairman of the Mangalore Branch of ICAI, has an instructive anecdote: "Both sons of a friend of mine were drug addicts. Putting them into de-addiction centres was only a temporary cure, for on discharge they would get back to drugs again. Doctors' advice was that once a person takes drugs he cannot be brought out of it. Finally we came up with a remedy of relocating the boys.

"After a short duration at a de-addiction centre, we forcibly sent one boy to the Middle East, since the stuff is not available there. We got him a small-time job there. For a few months it was difficult for him to adjust; even his maintenance expenses were met from here. Today it is almost two years since he has left and he is back to normal." Encouraging experiment!

"The other boy was admitted to Dare Foundation in Bangalore. For one year he was treated. Then they arranged for him to attend part-time study courses. Today he has a job and also counsels other drug addicts." Therefore, Nitin suggests that relocation would be the best cure. Success stories!

P. V. Sudhakar Rao of Ongole says that if parents await telltale signs of drug addiction in their offspring, it will be too late for them to correct the situation, because once their children get tangled in the vicious circle of drug addiction, it is almost impossible for them to come out of it and their end is imminent. Hence precautions should be taken by parents to keep their children out of drugs. He suggests: (a) parents should explain to their children the modus operandi of drugs; (b) children should not be subjected to any pressure regarding ranks/grades/marks, or domestic affairs; (c) frequent visits to college/ university/hostel will go a long way in prevention; (d) parents should be in contact with the friends of their children and make discreet enquiries. Valuable insights, Sudhakar.

There are more mails in the inbox, which I will return to later. Meanwhile, there is this missive from Sumit Mishra, studying B.Com first year in Patna, in response to the episode on harassment. "Women are believed to make unparalleled sacrifices and tolerate all burdens and obstacles. I suppose this is the greatest hurdle to their freedom. Believe it! To some extent, I think that the government and legal decisions make them feel backward. Overall we can say that it is women's own imagined fear!" Forthright comments.

A trip to the villages of death

On Wednesday, I got a call from Shyam, `BE computer science from IIT Madras and MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, and the CEO of To-Farm-I-Go.com,' if you remember from episode 55 (`Add a piece of farmland to your investment portfolio,' dated December 15, 2003). "Swati, I'm going on an urgent trip to interior Maharashtra. Can you join me?" he said. "What's it about? Bird-watching?" I snapped back.

Shyam sounded solemn, "No Swati, death-watching, if I may say so!" Shivering, I asked, "What?!" He explained, "A friend of mine, Pradeep, lives near the villages that have suffered the maximum number of suicides among farmers. He called me an hour back and beseeched: `Do something!' The PM is visiting the affected areas in a day or two, but the people don't seem to bet much on the government action, delayed as it always is... "

I didn't want to delay my answer and so blurted out a hasty yes before Shyam could finish. That evening we were heading to a clutch of villages that were not yet part of what is now-called `suicide tourism', the bizarre phrase that describes flocks of netas and bureaucrats that go with TV cameras in tow to places identified as affected.

*******

After a long journey, by rail and road, when we reached Pradeep's house, I was so exhausted that the first thing I needed was a hot bath and a good meal. But Pradeep was busy on the phone. After moments, he rushed to us, and said: "Jump in to the jeep. We will have to pick up the doctor on the way." I asked, "To where?" He turned to me and said: "You must be Swati, right? We are going to Balipur, a village 2 km away, where they have found one more case of a farmer who has consumed poison... "

*******

Kosavi, the farmer in question, was on the bed, writhing in pain, and a bottle of poison lay on the floor. Dr Prem Gawande, the doctor we had brought with us, was trying his best to bring Kosavi back to the world of the living. Around us were scenes of deprivation, the hut presenting a spectacle of poverty in deep freeze. Shyam was praying for the recovery of the farmer. "`They alone live who live by agriculture,' said Thiruvalluvar," he said, as if in affirmation. That was Kural 1033, only eight couplets before the `poverty' chapter, which begins with the poet-saint's assertion that nothing pains more than poverty. Are we doing enough to renew our farmers' faith in life, when faced with overwhelming indebtedness, I wondered? Send in your thoughts by Friday.

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