Kupwara, June 21: A meeting of District Level Committee of Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) was on Friday held under the Chairpersonship of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara, Ms. Ayushi Sudan (IAS) at Mini-Meeting Hall of DC Office Complex here in order to discuss the comprehensive strategy to counter the menace of drug abuse in Kupwara district.
The Deputy Commissioner meticulously reviewed the implementation of the measures taken and progress achieved to eliminate drug abuse and its peddling.
At the outset, the DC took a detailed appraisal from concerned members of NCORD Committee regarding the present scenario of drug related occurrences, areas of concern, hot spots of drug abuse and its peddling.
On the occasion, the DC stressed upon the Officers of all the line Departments to further intensify IEC activities, connecting communities including religious influencers and civil society members.
The Deputy Commissioner while laying thrust on further intensifying IEC campaign at Schools, Colleges and Health & wellness Centre levels to sensitize students and common masses about ill effects of drugs as well as encouraging healthy activities to discourage drug abuse, asked the Chief Education Officer, Nodal Officer Colleges and CMO Kupwara to organize awareness programs , rallies and capacity building cum counseling sessions on the harmful effects of drug menace in all degree colleges, educational institutions and Health and wellness centres across the district and align these programmes with Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA)/international Day Against Drug abuse and illicit Trafficking on 26 June.
DSWO Kupwara was directed to get the photos and video clips of these programmes uploaded on the portal.
The Deputy Commissioner also emphasized the Officers including Enforcement agencies for strengthening intelligence network to crack hotspots of drug abuse, identify the routes of drug peddling and obstruct this menace, besides creating greater deterrence to combat dangerous trade of drug-trafficking.
The DC also called for attacking the problem of drugs from both supply and demand sides vital to contain the drug peddling and break the supply chain. She also called for stringent action against the culprits involved in the hazardous trade of drugs.
During the meeting, the DC also asked the concerned departments to organize a destruction drive of wild cannabis at Trumukhan and other hot spots in the first week of July.
The DC also emphasized on effective functioning of Addiction Treatment Facility Centers (ATFCs) to fight against drug addiction and mitigate the sufferings of the drugs- affected persons. She also laid trust on ensuring proper counseling and rehabilitation for individuals struggling with addiction.
DC urged the concerned departments to reach out to 1000 identified drug abusers and facilitate them to to the ATFC and Drug De-addiction Centre.
DC directed Principal GMC to finalize the recruitment process for the staff of ATFC at an earliest.
DC directed CMO Kupwara and Assistant Drug Controller to keep a close vigil on sale of expired and spurious drugs and get the samples tested from the testing labs on routine basis.
On the occasion, Assistant Drug Controller Kupwara appraised the chair that out of total 593 medical stores across the district, CCTV cameras have been installed in 585 medical stores till date.
The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, Muhammad Rouf Rehman, Additional SP Kupwara, Chief Education Officer, Chief Medical Officer, Tehsildars and other concerned officers.
