Anantnag: The All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) on Saturday launched a statewide anti-drug awareness campaign from Verinag in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, while also calling for immediate Panchayat elections and delimitation of Panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir.
An organisational meeting of the Conference was held in Verinag under the leadership of its President, Anil Sharma, at the historic site known as the origin of the Jhelum River. The meeting deliberated on organisational matters as well as pressing issues concerning rural governance.
Addressing the gathering, Sharma said that residents of rural areas have long been demanding delimitation of Panchayats. He stressed that the process should be undertaken at the earliest to pave the way for timely Panchayat elections, along with elections to Block Development Councils (BDC) and District Development Councils (DDC).
He noted that since the dissolution of Panchayats, villagers, particularly the poor, farmers, and labourers, have been facing hardships due to the absence of Gram Sabhas. Describing the Gram Sabha as the foundation of grassroots democracy, Sharma said all developmental decisions should be taken through it.
Highlighting structural issues, he pointed out disparities in voter strength across Panchayats, stating that some have around 3,000 voters while others have up to 4,000. He suggested rationalisation to ensure each Panchayat ideally caters to 800–1,000 voters for balanced and equitable development.
Sharma also welcomed the recent announcement by Manoj Sinha regarding a time-bound crackdown on drug abuse, and extended full support to the initiative. He said the actions of Jammu and Kashmir Police against drug traffickers are commendable and that the organisation stands firmly with the administration in this effort.
Announcing the formal launch of the anti-drug campaign, Sharma said the initiative will be carried out across Panchayat, block, and district levels to sensitise youth about the harmful effects of substance abuse. He urged families to remain vigilant and keep their children away from drugs, emphasising that the younger generation represents the future of society.
District Executive Member and District President Anantnag, Shahid Bhat, who played a key role in organising the programme, reiterated his commitment to the campaign. Former BDC Chairperson Verinag, Ali Mohammad, also attended and appreciated the initiative, pledging full support.
The meeting was attended by several Panchs and Sarpanchs from Verinag, Duru, and Shahabad areas, including Aashiq Hussain, Bashir Padder, Rashid Bumla, Yousuf Shan, Fayaz Ahmad, Bashir Ahmad, Manzoor Ahmad, Bashir Shera, Lateef Malik, Saleem Bhat, and others.
Participants unanimously expressed support for strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions and pledged to actively contribute to the anti-drug campaign across their respective areas.
