Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma today led a massive Padh Yatra marking the launch of the “Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan” in the district as part of the Union Territory-wide 100-day Anti-Drug Campaign. The campaign has been launched across the UT of Jammu & Kashmir by Lieutenant Governor Sh. Manoj Sinha, aiming to eradicate drug abuse through awareness, enforcement and community participation.
The Padh Yatra commenced from Char Chinar Chowgan Ground, Kuleed Chowk and culminated at the Mini Secretariat, witnessing an overwhelming participation of 5000-6000 individuals including officers, teachers, students, police personnel, traffic staff, CRPF and employees from various departments.
A key highlight of the rally was the active participation of religious leaders, representing diverse communities of District Kishtwar. Representatives from the Santan Dharma Sabha, Majlis-e-Shoura Committee and Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee joined the initiative and addressed the gathering, urging citizens especially the youth to refrain from drug abuse and contribute toward building a healthy, drug-free society.
At the historic Chowgan Ground, the Deputy Commissioner administered “Nasha Mukt Pledge” to all participants, reinforcing their collective commitment to the cause. Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Commissioner emphasized a three-pronged strategy for the district to combat drug abuse.
He stated that the first priority is awareness generation, which involves reaching out to schools, colleges and all sections of society to educate people about the harmful effects of drugs. He underscored that awareness must penetrate every corner of the district to create a strong social resistance against substance abuse.
The Deputy Commissioner further highlighted strict enforcement as the second pillar of the campaign. He stressed the need to strengthen law enforcement mechanisms to curb drug trafficking and ensure stringent action against offenders. He reiterated that enforcement agencies would intensify their efforts during the 100-day campaign to dismantle drug networks and maintain strict vigilance.
Elaborating on the third component, he emphasized public outreach, stating that the administration will actively engage with communities to ensure that the campaign reaches every Panchayat of the district. He called for collective participation from government departments, NGOs, religious institutions and the general public to make the initiative a mass movement.
Similar rallies of significant scale were also carried out across all Tehsils and Panchayats, as well as in educational institutions throughout the district, reflecting widespread participation and strong grassroots engagement in the anti-drug campaign. The DC also urged the general public to actively participate in the campaign and support the administration in its mission to make Kishtwar a drug-free district.
It is pertinent to mention that the 100-day “Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan” will continue across the district in accordance with a comprehensive activity calendar prepared by various departments under the guidance of the Deputy Commissioner.
SSP Naresh Singh; Commandant 52 Bn CRPF ; Bhupesh Yadav; ADC Pawan Kotwal; PO ICDS Dr. Rishi Kumar Sharma; CEO KDA Kaiser Bhawani; ACR ; ACD Manoj Kumar; ACR Idrees Lone; ACP Neeraj Sharma; DSWO Tariq Parveaz Qazi; CEO MC Mirza Mumtaz Iqbal; Dy. SP Hqrs. Dr. Ishan Gupta; DYSSO and other officers, officials and representatives of various religious communities were also present.