Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria on Thursday called upon mothers to take the lead in the fight against drug abuse, saying the emotional bond between a mother and child can be the strongest safeguard against addiction.He was speaking at a workshop on ‘Mothers Against Drugs’, organised by the Punjab LIT Foundation and the Department of Education, Chandigarh Administration, at PM SHRI Government Girls Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 18, Chandigarh.Kataria said preventing drug addiction requires collective efforts from educational institutions, parents, religious organisations and society. He emphasised that mothers, because of their close connection with their children, can play a crucial role in identifying concerns and guiding youngsters away from harmful influences.Appreciating the initiative by Punjab LIT Foundation co-founder Khushwant Singh, the Administrator described the decision to centre the campaign around mothers as a “masterstroke”, saying that “no bond is stronger than that between a mother and her child”.Recalling his interactions with mothers during visits to Punjab’s border areas, Kataria said their concern for their children’s future and their emotional connect with them motivated him to support efforts aimed at preventing addiction before it affects young lives.Highlighting Punjab’s legacy of courage and sacrifice, he said the state, which has produced personalities such as Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Gobind Singh, Madan Lal Dhingra, Shaheed Udham Singh and Shaheed Bhagat Singh, cannot allow its youth to be weakened by drug abuse.Kataria said young people are India’s greatest strength and that drugs are damaging this valuable resource. Expressing concern over cross-border drug smuggling, he said anti-national elements were attempting to weaken the country’s youth through narcotics, particularly in Punjab.He called for a united response involving parents, teachers, institutions and community organisations. He also urged teachers to develop friendly and trusting relationships with students so they can understand their problems and provide timely support.Khushwant Singh said the campaign was initially focused on mothers of students studying in Class VIII and above. However, after consultations with experts, the focus was expanded to mothers of children studying in Class III onwards. He added that mothers of older students would continue to remain part of the initiative.During an interactive session, Gaurav Gill of the Punjab LIT Foundation encouraged parents to listen to children without judgement, understand their concerns and create an environment where they feel comfortable discussing their challenges.Kataria called for similar awareness programmes to be organised in all educational institutions across Chandigarh to ensure the message reaches students and families.