The J&K Government has finally rolled out the drug de-addiction policy, as an initiative in its fight against the substance abuse which has grown rampant in the state.
To begin with, the 14 departments, identified as key playersin tackling substance abuse under the policy, have been directed to submitweekly report to the government on works done. Besides, the authorities fromthe departments concerned will remain in touch on an official WhatsApp groupfor better coordination and effective implementation of the policy. Theinitiatives have been devised after Advisor to Governor K Vijay Kumar chaired ameeting recently which was attended by heads of all the departments, anofficial said.
The progress report, the official said, was expected to helpin preventing laxity on part of any of the departments and help in fightagainst the drug abuse.
“The Advisor was very categorical in his directions aboutresult oriented work, on fast pace, and it is upon his orders that thedepartment (H&ME) has been directed to compile the reports and submit themto his office for periodic inspection,” he said.
The departments include Institute of Mental Health andNeurosciences of Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, GMC Jammu,directorates of health, SKIMS Medical College Hospital and five new MedicalColleges, J&K Police, Narcotics Control Bureau, Excise and TaxationDepartment, Police and Intelligence Department, Departments of Education,Social Welfare and Youth Services and Sports, J&K State AIDS ControlSociety and NGOs working in the field of de-addiction and Directorate ofInformation and Public Relations.
Another official said heads of the departments concerned andrepresentatives nominated by Government are members of the WhatsApp group.
The group will serve as a platform for these departments todiscuss steps taken and action planned to tackle substance abuse, the officialsaid.
“The members can share intelligence related to drugs, seekhelp and action and also ideate better means to take substance abuse head-on,”said the official, while adding that the group will be monitored by Advisor toGovernor.
“There are clear directions to share any information in thegroup if any person or group is trying to cause an impediment in drive againstdrug abuse,” he said.
Financial Secretary H&ME AtalDulloo confirmed that theDepartment will be coordinating the fresh initiatives against substance abuse.”It is a serious problem and needs us to work at various levels,” he said whileadding that weekly reports will be analysed and they will help the Governmentto regularly update the strategy. “Children are falling to drugs and theGovernment is putting all its machinery together to prevent a drug relatedcrisis in the State,” Dulloo said.
He said the department of Psychiatry GMC Srinagar has beenassigned the task of compiling weekly reports, based on work done and inputsreceived from various departments.