Srinagar, Sep 22: Minister for Health,Horticulture & Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma today said the government would establish rehabilitation-cum-counseling centres at the district level to treat the drug addicts.
 Sham also called for coordinated efforts to eradicate the menace of drug addiction from the society.
 Expressing concern over the growing number of drug abuse cases, especially among the students and younger generation, he said, time had come when “we all have to make the collective efforts to save the younger generation from the menace”.
 Addressing a one day workshop on drug addiction at Kashmir Government Polytechnic College here, the Minister said only government efforts were not sufficient to tackle this human issue, but all right thinking people, intellectuals, NGOs and above all school institutions had to play their positive role to ensure drug free society.
 Laying special emphasis on the parents and teachers to motivate the children to keep away from the social evils, the Minister appealed them to inculcate sense of responsibility and moral values among them so that they become good citizens and play a lead role in the nation building.
 Appreciating the efforts of Civil Society Forum, Kashmir for organizing the workshop, the Minister stressed the need for holding such events at the block level with the involvement of cross section of the society, including Panchayat representatives to achieve the common goals.
 Sham directed the officers of drug control organization to speed up vigil in the market to ensure that banned drugs were not sold.
 Regarding drug policy, he said the document was at the final stage and State would shortly get a full-fledged drug policy. This will help maintaining quality drugs in the market and also keep a check on the drug abuse, said Mr. Sham.
 Director SKIMS, Dr. Showkat Ahmad Zargar, former SMC Mayor, Salman Sagar also addressed the gathering. They sought concrete steps to save the younger generation from the grip of ever growing menace of drug abuse.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST