DC Kishtwar reviews drug control measures Calls for stronger action, generating mass awareness

KISHTWAR, MARCH 01: The District-Level NCORD (Narco Coordination Centre) Committee meeting was convened today to review the measures taken to combat drug abuse in the district and to strengthen the ongoing anti-drug initiatives in the District.

Chaired by Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma, the meeting focused on reinforcing the drug de-addiction framework and assessing the progress achieved under the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign being implemented as part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.

At the outset, District Social Welfare Officer Tariq Parveaz Qazi presented the Action Taken Report (ATR) outlining the progress made on the decisions taken during the previous NCORD meeting.

The Deputy Commissioner conducted a comprehensive review of the prevailing drug abuse scenario in the district. He sought detailed inputs regarding vulnerable areas, affected age groups and identified hotspots requiring immediate attention.

He also reviewed the preventive, rehabilitation and enforcement measures being undertaken by the stakeholder departments to curb the menace of drugs.

Emphasizing the importance of collective responsibility and coordinated action, the Deputy Commissioner directed the Heads of Departments (HoDs) to ensure that all nominated resource persons and concerned officers and officials actively participate in the ongoing IEC campaign against drug abuse under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.

He cautioned that any instance of non-compliance or absenteeism in the future would be viewed seriously and dealt with accordingly. He further directed to declare remaining schools asTobacco-Free Zones in strict adherence to TOFEI guidelines.

To strengthen grassroots-level interventions, the Deputy Commissioner directed all Sub-Divisional Magistrates and Tehsildars, who head the Sub-Division and Tehsil-Level Committees respectively, to declare Panchayats as “Nasha Mukt” strictly in accordance with the prescribed Standard Operating Procedure (SoP), ensuring proper verification and community involvement.

Highlighting the need for strict monitoring and surveillance, the DC ordered the installation of CCTV cameras in identified hotspots across the district. He also stressed the importance of regular monitoring of suspicious drug consignments, particularly those routed through courier services.

The meeting was attended by ADC Pawan Kotwal, PO ICDS Dr. Rishi Kumar Sharma, SDM Dr. Amit Kumar, ACD Manoj Kumar, ARTO Tasleem Wani, ALC Mamta Sudershan, Dy. SP Hqrs Dr. Ishan Gupta, DFO Mahesh Thakur, DFO Vishal Chaudhary, CAO Kushal Chandel, CEO Sanjay Dogra, Inspector, Excise and Taxation Department, Drugs Inspector, Drugs and Food Control Kishtwar, Nodal Officer ATF Dr. Hariss, along with other officers and officials of the concerned departments.