Jammu: Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday directed a massive crackdown on drug smuggling networks targeting youth in the Union Territory.
Reviewing the progress of ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan’ at a high-level meeting at Lok Bhavan here, he said deliberate and sinister efforts are being made to push the J&K youth into the abyss of drug addiction, an official spokesperson informed.
“A comprehensive, whole-of-government approach, combining stringent enforcement, robust preventive measures, and a carefully calibrated multi-pronged action plan, is urgently required to dismantle the entire ecosystem of drug smuggling and narco-terrorism,” the LG said.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, Shailendra Kumar, Principal Secretary Home Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary to Lt Governor Mandeep K Bhandari and other senior civil and police officers, an official spokesperson said.
Directing for a massive crackdown on smuggling networks that target the youth, the LG called for ‘Jan Bhagidari’ and a coordinated response against drug abuse for achieving the goal of ‘Nasha Mukt’ Jammu Kashmir.
The spokesperson said the meeting discussed five key focused areas- enforcement, IEC, counselling, treatment, and rehabilitation, while integrating a rigorous social media monitoring system to counter false narratives.
Sinha directed the officials for the implementation of deterrents, especially within educational institutions, in mission mode.
He also directed for identifying and strict punishment of any remnants of narco-terror networks within the system.
The LG emphasised that the citizens must be encouraged to report drug addiction and drug smuggling-related matters to the police and the administration.
Sinha also reviewed the preparations of all the line departments for the upcoming intensive drug awareness campaign across J&K.
“Religious leaders, social organisations, ex-servicemen, NCC, NSS, Scouts and Guides and political leaders must be taken on board in the fight against drug addiction,” he said.
The LG directed for assessment of activities conducted under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan over the past year.
The meeting also discussed the onboarding of all the districts on Nasha Mukt J&K Portal, engagement of nodal officers, ongoing community outreach programmes, training and capacity building, strengthening and expansion of de-addiction infrastructure and human resource, operationalisation of Addiction Treatment Facilities, Drug De-addiction registry portal, implementation of SoPs and activities undertaken by the line departments, the spokesperson said.
On the sidelines of the meeting, he said the LG directed the senior officials to prioritize the vibrant villages programme, with a dedicated focus on inclusive development of border villages.
