SHOPIAN: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shopian, Shishir Gupta, today presided over a meeting of the District Level NCORD (Narco Coordination) to review and strengthen measures aimed at curbing drug abuse and illegal narcotics activities in the district.
During the meeting, the DC directed all concerned departments to intensify efforts to speed up preventive and enforcement actions.
Drug Control authorities were directed to conduct regular inspections of pharmacies and ensure strict compliance with prescribed norms regarding the sale of medicines. He emphasised maintaining proper sale registers, verification of prescriptions and preventing misuse of scheduled drugs.
Agriculture and horticulture departments were asked to rope in farmers in hotspot areas for alternative cropping ventures.
The DC directed the education department to ensure installation of prominent signboards outside all schools across the district declaring the areas as ” No Smoking Zones.” Authorities were further instructed to strictly enforce the prohibition of smoking and the sale of tobacco products around educational institutions as per established norms.
Review of the constitution of anti-drug committees in schools and engagement of youth in sports activities was also focused upon for action.
Directions for sustained awareness campaigns and collective responsibility to safeguard the youth from the menace of drugs were emphasised on the occasion.
SSP, Shopian, Mushtaq Ahmed Choudhary; ADC, Dr. Zakir Hussain Faaz; ACR, Shakoor Ahmed Dar, district officers, Tehsildars and other concerned attended the meeting.