Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pulwama, Dr. Basharat Qayoom, today presided over a media workshop on the 100-day intensive campaign under the Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan (NMBA) at Circuit House Pulwama.
The workshop was organised by District Administration in collaboration with the Department of Information and Public Relations Pulwama to sensitise media professionals about their role and responsibilities in the effective implementation of the campaign and to strengthen collaboration between the administration and the media for combating drug abuse.
During the workshop, District Information Officer Pulwama delivered a detailed presentation highlighting the aims and objectives of the campaign, achievements under earlier phases of NMBA, and the comprehensive district action plan devised for the ongoing 100-day campaign.
The presentation further outlined phase-wise activities of the campaign, including padyatras, awareness drives, youth engagement programmes, community outreach initiatives and enforcement measures. The role of print, electronic and social media in promoting awareness, strengthening outreach and ensuring successful implementation of the campaign was also highlighted.
Addressing the gathering, the DC said that the workshop has been organised with the aim of strengthening collaboration with the media for effective implementation of the campaign in a mission mode. He said that the district action plan has already been rolled out with a three-pronged strategy focusing on Information, Education and Communication (IEC), treatment, rehabilitation and prevention, and enforcement, and is being implemented through a coordinated, multi-sectoral and community-driven approach.
Highlighting the pivotal role of media, he urged media persons to act as resource persons for the campaign by contributing towards awareness generation, guiding public discourse and strengthening community engagement. He encouraged them to actively participate in campaign activities being organised across different parts of the district.
The DC also emphasised that while strict enforcement action has been initiated against drug peddlers and will be further intensified, equal focus is being laid on treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration of victims with compassion and dignity. He called upon the media to play a constructive role in promoting responsible and stigma-free narratives and in disseminating accurate and verified information.
On the occasion, media persons also shared their views and suggestions for the effective implementation of the campaign and assured full cooperation in making the initiative a success. The workshop was attended by media persons from print and electronic media, as well as social media content creators from across the district.