Advisor to Governor, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, Friday said that combating drug-menace and saving youth from its ill effects was a shared concern for the government and the society.Addressing an inaugural function of ‘Substance Abuse Awareness Campaign’ in Srinagar, the Advisor said that civil society and educational institutions should step up efforts to defeat drug peddling as it is hazardous for the society. The programme was organized by Jammu & Kashmir State Human Rights Commission (JKSHRC) in collaboration with Directorate of School, Education Kashmir (DSEK).Among others, the programme was attended by Joint Director, DSEK, Abid Hussain, Chief Accounts Officer, Irfan Ahmad, CEOs, and Principals of various schools and other officials of the Directorate.Later, Advisor Ganai along with Chairman JKSHRC, Justice (Retd) Bilal Nazki released a report titled as ‘Empirical Analysis on Drug Addiction in Kashmir Valley’.
Advisor Ganai said that the Education Department would definitely take the mission ahead by informing and educating the children about drug menace. He said that besides ensuring quality education to the children and developing scientific temperament among the students, it was highly needed for the Department to reach out to concerned stakeholders—especially children to make them aware about the ill effects of the drug abuse and drug addiction.“If drug abuse becomes a bottleneck, it won’t let us realize our goals of imparting quality education,” Ganai said. He said that there was a dire need to strengthen the drug de-addiction centres and there was a need to create more in the State.Speaking on the occasion, Justice (Retd) Nazki said: “We all must join hands and there should be a visible pressure to tackle the drug menace in our State.”Director, Department of School Education, Kashmir informed about various initiatives taken by the DSEK in combating the substance abuse. He said that the Chief Education Officers from all the Districts of Kashmir division have been nominated as Nodal Officers of the Drug de-addiction Programme.