SRINAGAR, May 12: Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha on Tuesday launched two initiatives as part of the ongoing anti-drug campaign in the UT and said addiction victims must be treated with dignity, reconnecting them to society’s mainstream through resolve and compassion.
The remarks came as Sinha led a march in Baramulla and engaged with citizens under the 100-day ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan’ launched on April 5.
The two new initiatives — Community Immunisation Programme and Family Fortress Initiative — were launched by the LG, which, he said, will act as two innovative pillars under the campaign for the next 69 days.
Sinha said that just like communities have been taught to vaccinate against bacteria or viruses, the administration will partner with religious leaders and social groups to ensure community immunisation against drugs in five to 10 high-risk hotspot areas in every district.
“I urge schools, mosques, temples, gurdwaras, and NGOs to dedicate one hour weekly to strengthen this initiative through awareness. It will deliver real results, acting like an early warning system monitoring hotspots while building them into fully drug-free zones,” he said.
The LG said the Family Fortress Initiative will rely on the strong family and community bonds for the ultimate shield against drug addiction.
“Over the next 69 days, every school, college, and place of worship in Jammu and Kashmir should host a weekly family dialogue on drugs. These dialogues should be open and honest, paired with local campaign audits to spot and fix gaps,” he said.
Sinha highlighted that in the past 31 days, over 2,35,000 awareness and outreach events have been held across the Union territory. More than 44,000 OPD patients have been treated, nearly 700 drug smugglers and peddlers arrested and stringent action has been taken against the drug supply chain, he said. “Action has targeted every financial transaction of drug cartels, seizing crores in properties built from drug money by major smugglers. Across Jammu and Kashmir divisions, 300 driving licenses and over 400 vehicle registrations linked to drug smugglers have been recommended for cancellation.
“Enforcement agencies have ensured massive drug hauls. We have inspected more than 3,300 drug stores, and 150 licenses have been suspended for violating the norms,” he said.
Sinha further said nearly 3,000 CCTV cameras have now been installed at the drug stores across the Union territory.
“Over two dozen smugglers have been nabbed under the PITNDPS Act. I assure the people that we will chase every rupee, every asset, and shell company of drug traffickers, ensuring the harshest punishment for those who are destroying our youth’s future,” he said.
Fuelled by public support, this people’s movement is setting “historic records” in Jammu and Kashmir, and no past social campaign has seen such massive participation, he said.
“We have received nearly 3,000 calls for Tele-MANAS counselling and support in the past 31 days. I want our response to drugs to be rooted in science. “We don’t shame diabetes patients into health or cure cancer victims through stigma. Likewise, we must treat and rehabilitate addicts with dignity, reconnecting them to society’s mainstream through resolve and compassion,” the LG said.
Government officials and citizens must unite for surveillance, rally against drugs, and foster drug-free villages and towns, he added.
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