Peerzada Sayeed
Karnah Kupwara 26 June(KNS) In a major fillip to the fight against drug menace, Shakti Vijay Brigade of Indian Army, Gunjan Organisation for Community Development (a NGO based in Dharamshala, HP) led by Mr Sandip Parmar and people of Karnah came together to launch a major campaign against the drug abuse. Gunjan is mandated to work in this field by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt of India and designated as Regional Resource and Training Centre North Zonal - II. The awareness campaign which started on 24 June culminated on 26 June, the day entire world celebrates "International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking". Team of Gunjan involved civil administration, J&K Police, Sarpanches and other elected representatives like DDC and BDC members, civil society opinion makers, teachers and above all youths in this campaign. Special emphasis was laid on teachers as they play an important role in guiding the youths on the positive path. The programmes were organised at Hajinar, Tangdhar, Kandi and Tithwal. Awareness was focused upon psycho-social issues, positive way of living, substance abuse, role of teachers and elders in fight against it and need for youths to work towards society and nation building. A short play was also performed by the youth during the programme on 26 June.
In the follow up to the awareness campaign, selected team of doctors and paramedic staff will be trained by doctors of AlIMS, New Delhi in coordination with Gunjan. Post training a drug de-addiction centre will be established in Tangdhar with administrative support from Indian Army and SDH, Karnah. This being a people's campaign, local youths, prominent people and Ex-serviceman of Karnah will play a pivotal role in running the de-addiction centre. Timely interventions will be carried out by the experts of Gunjan. In the next phase rehabilitation of de-addicted persons will be carried out through skill development courses culminating in provisioning of jobs or self employment. few of which are already underway in coordination with Jan Shiksha Sansthan.
Efforts will be made to facilitate loans from banks for the purpose. It would be pertinent to highlight that drugs are being illegally smuggled by Pakistan across Line of Control as part of narco-terrorism and it has affected the youths of J& K in large manner. Nefarious designs of Pakistan can be gauzed from the fact that approximately 68 kgs of drugs have been caught by the security forces in last couple of months.(KNS)