Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha kick-started a month-long drug de-addiction campaign here on Thursday and said efforts were underway to put an end to the smuggling of narcotic substances from across the border.
He sought cooperation of all sections of society for the success of the ‘Nasha Mukt’ campaign and lauded security forces personnel for their alertness and the seizure of huge quantities of smuggled drugs in the Union Territory.
“In my Independence Day speech, I have talked about making J&K fear-free, corruption-free, drug-free and employable. These are my four pledges and given the rising graph of drug menace, it was taken up on priority,” Sinha told reporters.
According to an official press release, launching the new campaign for ‘drug-free city and drug-free village’, the LG called upon the representatives from PRIs & Urban Local Bodies to work with the administration and ensure villages and wards are made drug-free with determined efforts and proactive approach.
Drug menace has emerged as a formidable threat to our socio-economic structure, and it is essential that the entire society must come together to uproot this menace and work as a strong unit to make J&K healthy and drug free, he said.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the mass movement against drug addiction has been intensified. The J&K government along with the police, army and other security agencies is working with resolute determination to thwart the neighboring country’s malafide intentions,” he added.
Noting that public participation is significant to make J&K fear-free, corruption-free, drug-free and job-oriented, the LG said that there is need to involve community leaders, doctors, media persons, representatives of voluntary organizations and Panchayati Raj Institutions in the campaign against drug abuse, using popular mass media tools for awareness and evaluating the impact of the campaign to accelerate efforts against drug menace.
Successful models must be replicated for self-motivated campaigns by the community. I urge the Sarpanch of each village and the ward members of ULBs to run a campaign to make their village, their locality drug-free, the LG added.
He directed the Social Welfare Department to make drug de-addiction centres for girls and Juvenile centres functional at the earliest. He also passed a direction to set up more Integrated Rehabilitation Centers and ensure their effectiveness.
The LG recounted the administrative reforms introduced by the UT government and efforts made in the last two years, to bring the youth of J&K out of the darkness of drug addiction.
“J&K has been ranked second in the country for the outstanding performance in the anti-drug campaign and was honored by the Home Minister. The ranking and award is a tribute to each and every stakeholder who is dedicatedly working to make J&K drug-free. In the last two years, we have been running a Jan Andolan to make the drug free campaign successful in 10 majorly affected districts of Jammu and Kashmir, and I believe, our ranking is also the result of this spirit of public participation. However, much more is required to be done in this direction to eradicate the drug menace from society,” said the LG.
“Our police and Anti-Narcotics Task Force have been campaigning against drug trafficking by adopting a zero tolerance policy and we have to strengthen our resolve to destroy the entire network of drug dealers and drug traffickers. The seizures of large quantities of drugs in the last few months indicate that our strategy is proving effective,” he added.
PRIs and ULBs members together with the parents must ensure that no youth in their village and locality fall prey to drug menace, besides bringing back the misguided youth to the mainstream by ensuring that the drug addicts get immediate administrative and medical help for recovery, he observed.
“I am sure that the campaign of drug-free village, drug-free city and drug-free town will prove to be helpful in making Jammu and Kashmir free from drugs,” the LG added.
With the support of voluntary organization ‘Mashwara’, a dedicated focus is being given in treatment and rehabilitation of the victims of drug abuse in Jammu Division, noted the Lt Governor.
The LG asked all the Deputy Commissioners to ensure that sports camps are also organized to channelize the young energies through sports activities.
On the occasion, the LG also flagged off a Swasth Rath and a police bike rally for spreading awareness among people against the harmful and fatal effects of the menace of drug abuse. A pledge against drug abuse was also administered, besides a short skit on drug abuse by the students of GGM Science College was also presented.
Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary while speaking on the occasion informed that drug de-addiction centers will be established in each district of the UT. He stressed the need for people’s involvement and administering pledges against drug abuse in schools and colleges of J&K regularly.
Dr Abhishek Chowhan, psychiatrist, on the occasion threw light on the psycho-analytics of the drug abuse leading to detrimental effects on the social as well as personal life of the drug abusers. He also laid down the ways and suggestions to make the society free from this serious malady.
Meanwhile, in his recent episode of the Radio Talk Show, ‘Awaam ki Awaaz’, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha appreciated the suggestion of Anita Goel from Jammu for further improving government- civil society relations in Jammu and Kashmir, an official press release informed Thursday.
It said Anita Goel had said that government and people should work hand in hand for betterment of the whole society. She said that the government has taken many initiatives with people-focussed plans for the empowerment of women in Jammu and Kashmir and should build further on those schemes.
Anita Goel also lavished praise for the monthly programme started by the LG and said that such a platform encourages citizens to contribute towards nation building in one or other way, the press release said.
She said that through the radio programme, “people voice their valuable insights regarding different fields which in turn are being utilised by the government for drafting development policies as per the needs of the people, thus making the governance process more inclusive and people-centric.”
She said that it makes good sense to take feedback and suggestions from the common people for whom the various programmes and policies of the government are meant.
