Jammu, Feb 6: Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta today chaired the 4th UT Level Apex Committee meeting of NCORD and held an in-depth review of all the ongoing activities happening across Jammu and Kashmir to combat the drug menace here.
Dr Mehta while addressing the officers remarked that the victims of drug abuse deserves handholding and every possible assistance to live a normal life. He impressed upon the officers that without showing any laxity on the ongoing war on drugs, focus should also be laid on rehabilitation of its victims.
The Chief Secretary further exhorted upon the officers to involve PRIs as well as Anganwadi centres and schools for rehabilitation of drug abuse victims as well as for generating awareness among public particularly youth about the negative impact of drug abuse. He underscored that it is our collective duty to root out this plague from the society.
Highlighting on the importance of creating awareness among public, Dr Mehta enjoined upon the officers to maintain coordination and synergy between different departments and stakeholders so that this evil is uprooted completely from the UT.
He impressed upon the Secretary Health to upscale the activities under Tele Manas helpline for counselling and proper rehabilitation of victims. He also directed the Health department to create awareness among public about the Tele Manas helpline number 14416 as well as establish WhatsApp helpline under same initiative.
Calling upon the officers to popularise the Tele Manas Helpline, Dr Mehta advised the officers of Education and Health departments to popularize Tele Manas among students of educational institutions for reaping the benefits.
He further asked them to aware the students about drug abuse during morning prayers as well as discussing its symptoms during Parent-Teacher meetings so that they can keep close watch on their wards.
Stressing on the need of proper vigil and surveillance to combat this menace, the Chief Secretary directed the Deputy Commissioners and SSPs to monitor the hotspot areas in their respective districts involved in trading of drugs and take required punitive actions on same. He asked them to monitor pharmacies and take action against those found involved in misuse of drugs which can be used as Psychotropic substances. He also asked them to take action against pharmacies found involved in selling of drugs without prescription from authorised medical practitioners. He stressed on making special efforts to check online pharmacies, courier services for not taking any chance against this social evil.
