Srinagar, June 26 (KNS): Directorate of School Education Kashmir today observed International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Online discussions and webinars were organized in all districts in which more than 1.5 lakh students and 30 thousand teachers were connected online across Kashmir division.
On this occasion, Principal Secretary School Education and Skill Development, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon gave away prizes to the students toppers who participated in online Essay writing and Painting competitions organized by the Directorate of School Education Kashmir.
Speaking on the occasion, Principal Secretary emphasized on the need of taking effective measures so that school going children are kept aware about the ill effects of drugs. Dr Samoon said that the responsibility of breaking the chain of drug trafficking equally lies on the shoulders of teachers and parents.
Earlier, Director School Education Kashmir Mohammad Younis Malik gave a detailed presentation on the scenario of substance abuse at global, country and UT level.
He gave an overview of the efforts made by the Directorate in this regard in past one year. He said that the Directorate has teacher counsellors in Higher Secondary Schools who have been trained by IMHANS and the Psychiatry Department of GMC Srinagar.
He informed the Principal Secretary that the Directorate has constituted counselling cells in all Higher Secondary Schools and plans to widen the canvas to High Schools in near future. He also informed that in near future, the Directorate is going to impart online training to teachers regarding substance abuse awareness.

Meanwhile the son of a renowned Journalist Javid Zarger, Inam ul Zarger student of  Shah Rasool Memorial Welkin higher secondary School Sopore  has secured second position in the online painting competion . Inam was awarded by the Principal Secretary Education during a special fucntion at DSEK, Srinagar.(KNS)