BANDIPORA, APRIL 16: In a strategic move to leverage faith-based institutions and moral authority in combating substance abuse, the District Administration Bandipora convened a high-level interactive programme with Imams, Molvis, and religious scholars at Kaloosa Auditorium on Thursday, as part of the Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan’s 100-Day Mission Mode initiative.
Presided over by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Zaffar Husson Shawl, the gathering brought together religious leaders and community representatives from across the district to chart a coordinated approach to drug abuse prevention through faith-based messaging and community engagement.
Speaking on the occasion, the ADC emphasized that substance abuse represents not merely a law-and-order challenge, but a profound moral and social crisis demanding a multi-stakeholder response anchored in shared values. “Religious institutions wield unparalleled influence in shaping societal norms and guiding youth,” he noted, underscoring the critical role of mosques, sermons, and faith-based discourse in preventing drug addiction.
The interactive session witnessed substantive engagement from religious scholars, including Mufti Nazir Ahmad Qasmi and Maulana Khursheed Ahmad Nadvi, who articulated the Islamic perspective on substance abuse and pledged institutional support for the campaign. Participants stressed the importance of value-based education, awareness generation through religious gatherings, and grassroots vigilance in preventing narcotics consumption.
Speakers highlighted the devastating toll of addiction on families and communities, calling for strengthened coordination between the administration and religious leadership to amplify prevention messaging across traditional networks. The consensus emphasized that faith-based interventions, rooted in ethical teachings and community accountability, represent a powerful counterforce to drug abuse. The leaders collectively resolved to propagate the anti-drug message during Friday sermons starting tomorrow.
The District Administration emphasized its commitment to inclusive governance, engaging all sections of society, including religious institutions, civil society, and community organizations, in the collective effort to establish a drug-free Bandipora.
The programme was attended by the District Social Welfare Officer Bandipora, District Information Officer Bandipora, Tehsildar Bandipora, DySP Headquarters, and other district-level officials.
