Community participation key to drug-free society: Sheetal Nanda

Reasi, May 8: In an effort to spread awareness about the ill effects of drug abuse and make Reasi a drug-free district, the district administration Friday organised a mega awareness programme under the Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office Complex.
Commissioner Secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment, Sheetal Nanda, was the chief guest on the occasion.
The programme aimed at sensitising and strengthening the role of Mahila Nigrani Samitis in combating the menace of drug abuse and promoting a drug-free society.
Addressing the gathering, Sheetal Nanda expressed concern over the growing menace of drug abuse and underscored the need for sustained community participation to effectively tackle the issue. She said that a collective and coordinated approach involving families, educational institutions, civil society and government agencies is essential to build a drug-free society.
Appreciating the role of women in grassroots awareness and social reform, she observed that Mahila Nigrani Samitis can play a pivotal role in identifying the vulnerable cases, counselling affected families and guiding youth towards constructive and positive activities. She also stressed the importance of parental involvement and urged the parents to maintain close engagement with their children and encourage them to adopt a healthy and disciplined lifestyle.
The Commissioner Secretary appealed the participants to actively support the individuals affected by substance abuse and contribute towards creating a socially responsible and aware society. She also highlighted the importance of mental health support and informed the participants about the Tele MANAS helpline service, encouraging the people facing stress, anxiety, addiction or emotional distress to avail counselling and healthcare support through the 24×7 toll-free helpline number 14416.
Sheetal Nanda further called upon the public to extend full cooperation to the district administration Reasi in its ongoing efforts to eradicate the drug menace and make Reasi a drug-free district.
Deputy Commissioner Kumar Abhishek, while speaking on the occasion, said that the special 100-day campaign under the Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan aims to curb the menace of drug abuse through coordinated community participation. To achieve this objective, ASHA Workers, Anganwadi Workers and retired teachers have been included as members of the Mahila Nigrani Samitis to strengthen the campaign at the grassroots level, he informed. He urged the public to actively support the administration in eradicating the drug menace by sharing information regarding persons affected by substance abuse or those involved in drug peddling, if they come across any such cases in the district.
During the programme, Additional Superintendent of Police Iftekhar Ahmed, along with other speakers and psychiatrists from District Hospital Reasi, highlighted the growing threat of drug abuse. They stressed the need for collective efforts, public awareness, counselling and family support to prevent the substance abuse, particularly among the youth.
A pledge was also administered to the participants, who resolved to contribute actively towards building a drug-free and healthy society.
ADDC Krishan Lal, ADC Rakesh Kumar, ACR Nitin Verma and other district officers were present.