Legislation vetted by Law Deptt, FD gave concurrence
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 28: Health and Medical Education and Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo today said that a bill on drug de-addiction is likely to be brought in the Assembly during ongoing budget session of the Legislature.
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Replying to supplementaries of Congress MLA Iftikhar Ahmed in the Assembly during Question Hour, she said the bill is ready and the Government will try to introduce it during ongoing session.
Later, speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Itoo said the bill is almost ready and has been vetted by the Law Department while the Finance Department too has given its concurrence,.
“During last 5-6 years, some youths have gone into depression as there were no jobs. This is concern of the House that drug menace has to be stopped,” she said, adding the Government will try to bring the legislation during current session and get it passed.
On smuggling of drugs from the borders, she said this is not in her domain.
On availability of drugs in the Chemist shops, Itoo said restrictions have been imposed and the shopkeepers have been asked to install CCTVs and don’t sell medicines without prescription.
Asserting that the Home Department has also been doing its job, Itoo asked then why the smuggling of drugs is not stopping?
Earlier, Sakina Itoo informed the House that the Government is determined to eradicate drug menace across Jammu and Kashmir.
In her written reply to the question of Iftikhar Ahmed, she said that two Drug De-addiction centres are functional in Rajouri district, adequately catering to the needs of drug abuse victims adding that one Drug De-addiction centre is functioning at Old District Hospital Building, Rajouri, being run by NGO National Educational Society and Social Welfare Organization (NESSW). Besides, another Addiction Treatment Facility (ATF) is also functioning in Associated Hospital GMC, Rajouri (Kheora).
The Minister informed that out of around 822 patients admitted in these centres 558 have been treated. She added that Psychiatrist, Counsellor, Social Worker, Nurses, Pharmacist and Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) are providing regular services at the Drug De-addiction centre run by NESSW.
The Health Minister said that the two Drug De-Addiction Centres functioning in the district are adequately catering to the needs of the district, as reflected by the number of patients admitted and treated. She added that the government’s focus remains on reducing the incidence of drug abuse across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, rather than merely increasing the number of de-addiction centres.
Itoo said that awareness and counselling initiatives are being actively conducted throughout the district under the guidelines of District Administration, maintaining close collaboration with Police, Social Welfare and other concerned departments under the Nasha Mukt Bharat initiative.
The Health Minister also said that in the last two years 2024-25 and 2025-26, the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu has organized 53 camps mostly on every Monday which have covered about 19 Panchayats in District Rajouri. She added that GMC Rajouri has also conducted 5462 Awareness and Counseling programmes (3545 in the year 2024 and 1917 in 2025).
While replying to various supplementary questions, the Minister underlined that the Health department has deployed counselors in each village of Jammu and Kashmir to train former Panchayat members, religious preachers and heads, respectable citizens and others on tackling menace of drug abuse in the society. She also highlighted that the Health department is continuously providing treatment, counseling and rehabilitation facilities to drug abuse victims and the domain of law enforcement and conviction is not with the Health department.
The Minister added that the government is taking due action against the Drug De-addiction centres run by NGOs if they are violating any rules.
Legislators Dr. Bharat Bhushan and Tanvir Ali Sadiq also raised supplementary questions.
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