Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma today chaired a District-Level NCORD (Narco Coordination Centre) meeting to review the district's response to drug abuse and strengthen ongoing anti-narcotics initiatives.
The meeting focused on reinforcing the institutional framework for drug de-addiction and assessing progress under the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign being carried out as part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and the 100 Days Nasha Mukt JK Abhiyan.
At the outset, District Social Welfare Officer Tariq Parveaz Qazi presented an Action Taken Report (ATR) on decisions taken during the previous NCORD meeting. Reviewing the prevailing drug abuse scenario in the district, the Deputy Commissioner sought detailed inputs regarding vulnerable areas, affected demographic groups and identified hotspots requiring targeted intervention.
He also reviewed preventive, rehabilitative and enforcement measures being undertaken by various departments. The Deputy Commissioner directed all concerned Heads of Departments to ensure active participation of designated resource persons and officials in IEC activities under the Nasha Mukt Bharat/JK Abhiyan and cautioned that negligence or non-compliance would be viewed seriously.
He further directed the School Education Department to ensure that all remaining educational institutions are declared Tobacco-Free Zones in strict accordance with TOFEI guidelines. To strengthen grassroots-level interventions, the DC instructed Sub-Divisional Magistrates and Tehsildars to expedite the declaration of Panchayats as “Nasha Mukt” in accordance with prescribed Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs), ensuring due verification and community participation.
The Deputy Commissioner also directed all line departments to organize maximum activities as per the notified schedule under the 100 Days Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan and ensure timely submission of photographs and reports of activities to the DSWO Kishtwar.
All Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) were directed to submit Drug-Free Office Certificates after obtaining duly certified self-declaration forms from government employees. The ADC was directed to organize awareness meetings with already constituted Mahila Nigrani Samitis and further strengthen existing Youth Clubs.
He was also instructed to convene meetings with courier operators to ensure maintenance of proper records and prevent transportation of unauthorized Schedule H drug consignments through courier services. Seeking greater public participation in the anti-drug campaign, the Deputy Commissioner called upon citizens and self-motivated volunteers to actively contribute towards making Kishtwar drug-free.
He emphasized the need for continuous monitoring of suspicious drug consignments, particularly those routed through courier networks. SSP Naresh Singh, ADC Pawan Kotwal, PO ICDS Rishi Kumar Sharma, ACR Idrees Lone, ACD Manoj Kumar, all SDMs (virtually), DSWO Tariq Parveaz Qazi, ARTO Tasleem Wani, all Tehsildars (virtually), DYSSO Jaffer Haider Sheikh, CMO Dr. Yudhvir Singh Kotwal and officers from various concerned departments attended the meeting.