DC Stresses Sustained Efforts to Protect Youth from Drug Abuse
GANDERBAL: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal, Jatin Kishore, today chaired a meeting of the District Level Committee of the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) to review ongoing measures aimed at curbing drug abuse and strengthening action against drug peddling in the district.
The Additional Deputy Commissioner briefed the meeting regarding compliance on directions issued earlier, highlighting department-wise initiatives such as cancellation and suspension of licences of erring medical establishments, installation of CCTV cameras in educational institutions, conduct of awareness programmes, registration of cases under the NDPS Act, and suspension of driving licences of drug peddlers.
The ADC also informed the meeting about training of counsellors, and progress in uploading activities under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan on the designated portal.
Addressing the officers, the Deputy Commissioner underscored the importance of coordinated and sustained efforts to prevent youth from falling prey to substance abuse. He directed the Drug Control Department to intensify inspections of medical shops and ensure strict adherence to norms governing the sale of psychotropic substances, including proper functioning of Computerised Billing Systems and CCTV cameras.
To prevent misuse of courier services for drug trafficking, the DC instructed the concerned department to furnish details of warehouses and undertake joint inspections and random scanning exercises.
For early detection of substance use, the Health Department was instructed to conduct testing at vulnerable and high-footfall locations. He also stressed completion of CCTV installation in remaining educational institutions.
Highlighting awareness as a crucial preventive measure, the DC called upon all departments to intensify outreach programmes to educate the public on the ill effects of drug abuse.
The meeting was attended by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Khalil Ahmed Poswal, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Deputy Director Prosecution, Assistant Commissioner (Panchayats), Sub-Divisional Magistrate Kangan, Chief Education Officer, Chief Agriculture Officer, Chief Executive Officer Municipal Council Ganderbal, Assistant Controller Drugs, and other district officers and officials.