KISHTWAR, OCTOBER 30: Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma today chaired a meeting of the District-Level Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) Committee in the Meeting Hall of the New DC Office Complex, to review the progress of ongoing initiatives aimed at curbing drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the district.
At the outset, District Social Welfare Officer and Nodal Officer NCORD Tariq Parveaz Qazi presented the Action Taken Report (ATR) on the directions issued in the previous NCORD meeting. He also briefed the chair about the Vision Document 2026–2029 under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
The Deputy Commissioner undertook a detailed review of the ATR and assessed the progress achieved by the departments in implementing the decisions.
The meeting was informed that the Excise and Police Departments destroyed wild cannabis on additional 2 Kanals and 5 Marlas of land, besides destroying 50 litres of lahan. The Deputy Commissioner directed the Excise and Taxation Department to intensify enforcement drives and maintain strict vigilance against the cultivation of cannabis and production of illicit liquor.
The ASP was directed to ensure regular monitoring of identified drug hotspots as per the prescribed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Emphasising strict action against the illegal sale of psychotropic drugs, the Deputy Commissioner directed the concerned departments to continue coordinated inspections and enforcement drives. It was apprised that joint inspections conducted by the Health Department and Drug Control Officer covered 42 medical shops, of which the licences of two establishments was cancelled for violations.
Reviewing preventive measures in educational institutions, the Deputy Commissioner directed the School Education Department to ensure that all pending Government schools are declared Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (TOFEI) in accordance with the prescribed guidelines and that drug-free zones in schools are also notified after following the requisite SOPs.
The Higher Education Department and technical educational institutions were also directed to ensure that all pending private colleges, Polytechnics and ITIs are declared Drug-Free Campuses after proper verification and compliance with the prescribed guidelines.
The Deputy Commissioner also reviewed the functioning of the Addiction Treatment Facility (ATF) and directed the Chief Medical Officer to continue training counsellors and undertake capacity-building programmes for service providers. He further stressed the need to strengthen counselling facilities and enhance the availability of support services for individuals affected by substance abuse.
To strengthen community-level participation, SDMs and Tehsildars were directed to expedite the declaration of pending Panchayats as Nasha Mukt after proper verification, in accordance with SOPs and with active community participation.
The District Social Welfare Officer informed the meeting that four applications have been received from NGOs seeking permission to establish drug de-addiction centres. He was directed to process the applications strictly as per the prescribed norms and expedite the registration of Nasha Mukti Mitras, including MY Bharat Volunteers, to strengthen grassroots-level awareness and community engagement.
The District Youth Services and Sports Department was directed to integrate Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan awareness activities into all sports events being organised across the district.
The Chief Education Officer and Higher Education Department were directed to organise training programmes for teachers and intensify Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities.
The ARTO was directed to continue generating awareness among drivers during driving tests and enforcement drives. The ADC was directed to convene regular meetings with private courier service operators and the Postal Department to monitor suspicious parcels and prevent the transportation of Schedule H drugs through courier and postal channels.
The Deputy Commissioner also reviewed the details of seized contraband under Section 52-A of the NDPS Act and stressed the importance of timely follow-up and strict adherence to the prescribed legal procedures.
Emphasising coordinated and time-bound implementation of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Vision Document 2026–2029, the Deputy Commissioner directed the District Social Welfare Officer to circulate a department-wise breakdown of activities to facilitate the preparation of specific action plans within seven days. He further directed all concerned departments to submit their respective Action Taken Reports to the office of the District Social Welfare Officer Kishtwar, on or before the 20th of every month without fail.
The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Pawan Kotwal; ASP Mohammad Shafiq; PO ICDS Rishi Kumar Sharma; ACR Mohammad Idrees Lone; ACD Manoj Kumar; ACP Neeraj Sharma; ARTO Tasleem Wani; ALC Amit Kumar; CAO Kushal Chandel; Drug Control Officer Muneesh Bhagat; Nodal Officer ATF, Dr. Hariss and other concerned officers and representatives from Excise and Taxation Department, DYS&S Department and GDC.
