A meeting of the District Level Committee of Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) was held Wednesday under the Chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara, Ayushi Sudan at the Meeting hall of DC Office Complex Kupwara.
The meeting took appraisal of the action taken by the concerned departments with regard to control measures to overcome Drug menace in the district. nIt also discussed threadbare the incidences of drug addiction, areas of concern, age group of addicts, hot spots of drug abuse and status of drug rehabilitation centre in Kupwara district.
The members of the Committee presented the latest report in the district regarding action taken against drug addiction and drug trafficking. On the occasion, the DC stressed upon the Officers of all the line Departments including Enforcement agencies to ensure better coordination in eradicating the menace of drug trafficking and abuse.
She said that efforts with Cooperation, Coordination and Collaboration are vital to contain the drug peddling and break the supply chain, besides taking stringent action against the culprits involved in the hazardous trade of drugs. The DC directed officers of concerned line departments to make a comprehensive action plan and prepare a calendar of awareness programmes involving all stakeholders like NGOs, colleges, schools.
Principals of colleges, Higher secondary schools and other schools were asked to organize seminars and symposiums to educate the students and public about the dangers of drug abuse and further to sensitize students about ill effects of drugs as well as encouraging healthy activities and hobbies to discourage the drug abuse so that students and youth are kept away from tempting towards drugs.
DC directed CMO Kupwara to organize block level awareness camps involving functionaries of line departments and PRIs. DC stressed for making OPDs effectively functional for better and improved access to addiction treatment and support services and stronger regulation of the pharmaceutical stores to prevent the illegal distribution of banned drugs.
Tehsildars of the district were directed to identify the spots where the Bhung is cultivated and start a special drive to destroy it. Meeting was apprised that 241 OPDs, 289 counseling sessions of drug de-addiction were conducted and 48 councilors were trained in the district.
The NCORD meeting was attended by SSP Kupwara, Yougal Manhas; SP Handwara, Sheema Nabi; Additional Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Ghulam Nabi Bhat; CMO Kupwara, DFO Kehmil, DIO Kupwara, all Tehsildars, District Social welfare officer Kupwara, Excise and Taxation officer and other concerned.