Home dept. to oversee month long Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan

In order to keep tab on the growing drug abuse cases in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha led administration on Wednesday constituted a seven member committee headed by Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Home Department Raj Kumar Goel to coordinate a month long ‘Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan’ which will be organized across Jammu and Kashmir, commencing from 1st September, 2022.

It is estimated that a total of 6 lakh victims are associated with activities related to drug and substance abuse in the Union territory.

If the official sources are to be believed, the Jammu and Kashmir has become a hub of drugs. A recent study has revealed that Jammu Kashmir has 600,000 people involved in drug-related issues which are approximately 4.6 per cent of the population of the Union Territory. It said that 90 per cent of these drug users are in the age group of 17-33 years.

“Sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of Committee for coordinating the activities for the month-long ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyaan’ commencing w.e.f 01.09.2022, in the Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir under the chairmanship of Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Home Department.
The other members of the Committee have been named as Director General of Police, J&K, Principal Secretary to the Government, Higher Education Department, Principal Secretary to the Government, School Education Department, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Social Welfare Department and Secretary to the Government, Health & Medical Education Department”, said the order, adding, “Terms of Reference: Plan and oversee execution of various activities to observe the month-long ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyan’ across Jammu and Kashmir through active involvement of the Panchayati Raj Institutions. Recommend ways to extend medical care and rehabilitation to the identified victims while maintaining their anonymity.

Recommend measures to strengthen the infrastructural support at district level in addition to establishing a drug de-addiction centres at respective district hospitals with adequate arrangements for professional manpower and medical supplies and recommend measures to check availability and circulation of habit-forming drugs, medicines and substances”.

Meanwhile if the officials in Anti Narcotic Task Force are to be believed, 1055 FIRs under NDPS Act have been registered by the ANTF and arrests of 1634 accused persons made effective in seven months of the current year i.e. till July this year. The seizures made by the ANTF include Heroin/Brown Sugar- 173.2 Kgs, Charas/Bhang 443 Kgs, Ganja-143 Kgs, Poppy Straw-6626 Kgs, Opium. 3.207 Kgs, Banned Capsules-149568 Nos, Banned Cough Syrup-8017 Nos, conviction under NDPSA-341 (Data upto June 2022), destruction of Poppy Crops-704 Kanals, FIRs registered against illicit cultivators-52 persons, arrested for illicit cultivators-141.