SHOPIAN, MAY 15: In alignment with the visionary initiatives announced by the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha under the Drug-Free Jammu & Kashmir Campaign, more than 500 Government and Private schools across District Shopian today organised Mega Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) under the flagship ‘Family Fortress Initiative’ of the Nasha Mukti Abhiyan.
The large-scale awareness drive witnessed overwhelming participation from parents, teachers, community members, and school managements across all educational zones of the district. The PTMs were aimed at sensitising parents about the growing threat of drug abuse among youth and equipping them with practical strategies to safeguard their children from the menace of substance abuse.
During the interactions, parents were educated about early warning signs of addiction, the importance of emotional bonding within families, monitoring children’s behaviour and social circles, responsible use of social media, and the collective role of society in building a drug-free future.
Teachers and school heads also highlighted the need for continuous dialogue between parents and educational institutions to ensure the holistic well-being of students.
The programmes were conducted in the spirit of the ‘Family Fortress Initiative’, which emphasises strong family and community bonds as the first line of defence against drug addiction. The initiative, recently launched for weekly family dialogues and sustained community engagement to uproot the drug menace from society.
Parents participated in the Mega PTMs with remarkable enthusiasm, seriousness, and a deep sense of responsibility. Many parents expressed concern over the increasing threat posed by narcotic substances and assured the school authorities that they are ready to go to any extent to protect their wards from falling prey to drug abuse. They unanimously pledged their active participation in future weekly PTMs and awareness programmes for achieving the common resolve of a drug-free society.
Speakers during the sessions stressed that schools, families, religious institutions, and civil society must work in close coordination to strengthen the “Community Immunisation Programme against Drugs” announced by the Lieutenant Governor. The campaign seeks to transform vulnerable areas into fully drug-free zones through awareness generation, early intervention, and community vigilance.
The district administration and education department appreciated the active involvement of parents and termed the response as highly encouraging.
