GURDASPUR : President Pranab Mukherjee has confer the National Award on Romesh Mahajan , Project Director Drog De-addiction and Rehablitation Centre Gurdaspur who has launched a crusade against drugs for outstanding services in the field of prevention of alcoholism and substance (drug) abuse at a function on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.Mahajan has been heading the Red Cross de-addiction centre here for the past more than 20 years. It may recalled that Gurdaspur district is considered to be one of the worst-affected areas as far as drug abuse is concerned primarily due to extremely low employment rate.During the the past two decades, more than 36,500 addicts have been treated indoors in the 30-bed centre while 65,000 has been cured in the OPD.It is worth mentioning that after reports surfaced about the successful running of the centre, two US diplomats visited the centre on February 17 to apprise themselves about its working.