DM Reasi reviews NCORD measures, reaffirms commitment to drug-free district
Blazing Tales News Service
REASI, July 27: District Magistrate Reasi Kumar Abhishek on Monday chaired a meeting of the District Level Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) to review enforcement measures and ongoing initiatives aimed at curbing drug abuse, dismantling narcotics networks and promoting a tobacco-free environment across the district.
The meeting undertook a comprehensive review of actions taken by various departments under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) and the NCORD framework. The District Magistrate assessed the progress made in enforcement, awareness generation, de-addiction, rehabilitation and inter-departmental coordination.
The Police Department informed the meeting that several cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act have been registered, leading to the arrest of accused persons and significant recoveries of narcotic substances. The District Magistrate directed the police to share details of identified drug addicts with the Chief Medical Officer to facilitate counselling, treatment and rehabilitation.
The meeting was also informed that residential properties of drug peddlers have been attached, vehicles linked to narcotics offences seized and bank accounts frozen as part of the administration’s ongoing crackdown on the drug trade.
Reviewing awareness initiatives, the District Magistrate was informed that hundreds of IEC programmes, counselling sessions, community meetings and educational campaigns have been organised in schools, colleges and villages across the district. Educational institutions, ICDS centres and Mahila Nigrani Samitis have been actively engaged in spreading awareness about the harmful effects of drug abuse and identifying vulnerable individuals.
Assistant Regional Transport Officer Reasi informed the meeting about the suspension and cancellation of driving licences and registration certificates linked to narcotics offences. The District Magistrate directed the Health Department to ensure the availability and distribution of drug-testing kits to the concerned departments for effective monitoring. He also instructed officers to install CCTV cameras at identified drug hotspots and conduct surveys to identify additional vulnerable locations requiring surveillance.
The meeting further reviewed measures to make educational institutions tobacco-free. The Chief Education Officer was directed to identify institutions requiring focused intervention and ensure strict implementation of the Tobacco-Free Educational Institution (TOFEI) guidelines.
Reiterating the district administration’s commitment to achieving a drug-free district under the Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan, Kumar Abhishek directed that meetings of Mahila Nigrani Samitis be held every month to strengthen community vigilance and public participation. He urged citizens to promptly report any instances of illicit cultivation, drug peddling or other drug-related activities to the district administration for timely action.
Highlighting the importance of sports and youth engagement in preventing substance abuse, the District Magistrate said various sports events and recreational programmes are being organised at the district and block levels to channel the energy of young people in a positive direction.
He also called for the continued conduct of awareness and counselling programmes in educational institutions to educate students about the harmful effects of drug abuse, tobacco consumption and other addictions.
