Calls for Coordinated Action against Drug Abuse in District
Baramulla, Apr 4: The District Magistrate Baramulla (DC), Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar today convened 6th meeting of the District Level Committee of Narcotics Coordination (NCORD) at Drug De-addiction center Singhpora here.
Principal Government Medical College Dr (Prof) Ruby Reshi, Senior Superintendent
of Police Sopore Shabir Nawab; Additional Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Dr Zahoor
Ahmad Raina, Assistant Commissioner Revenue Peerzada Mumtaz Ahmad, Chief
Medical officer, Dr Bashir Ahmad Malik, Chief Education Officer Balbir Singh Raina, District Social Welfare Officer Nissar Ahmad Wani and other members of the Committee were present in the meeting.
On the occasion, DM discussed various issues related to menace of drug addiction, areas of concern, age group of addicts, hot spots of drug peddling, abuse, besides, cultivation of illicit poppy and cannabis in the District. She said that collective efforts are needed to curb the drug menace and all stakeholders shall have to work in tandem to enhance the rehabilitation of persons involved in drug abuse.
Dr Syed Sehrish emphasised on conducting awareness camps in schools and colleges on mass scale to sensitize the youth about hazards and ill effects of consuming drugs.
The DM asked officers of all line departments to make coordinated efforts to contain the drug peddling and break the supply chain besides taking stringent action against the persons involved in this dangerous trade.
Dr Syed Sehrish said, in order to combat this rising societal problem, multi-pronged rehabilitation, counseling and guidance policy is being implemented on ground to monitor drug abuse and take remedial measures to curb the menace.
She sought cooperation from the religious heads, families particularly from parents to overcome the menace among the youth which also leads to other social evils and crimes. She emphasized upon the role of religious scholars and imams for fortifying the efforts in curbing the drug menace.
The DM directed concerned functionaries of Education and Health Department to get CCTV cameras installed at Schools, Colleges and all medical shops, clinical establishments and chemist/ druggist shops respectively which lie within the limits of schools, colleges and hospitals so that overall surveillance with regard to the containment of drug sales is enforced.
Meanwhile, with regard to the recently established Drug De-addiction center Singhpora, the DM stressed for training of health officials for proper functioning of the centre so that it becomes one of the sources to eradicate the menace.
On the occasion, officers apprised about the situation with regard to the drug menace and shared their suggestions and measures to be taken at District level to control the drug peddling and its consumption, besides measures for rehabilitation of drug victims.
