Despite chilly weather, the event was attended by nearby mohalla and masjid committee bodies and a large number of people, including youth, who pledged to fight against the menace of drugs.

Molvi Mohammad Arif, Imam-Khateeb Jamia Masjid Pamposh Colony while stressing upon the people that religion teaches us to fight against such menace. “If we have to save our future generations from this menace, we need to give moral as well as religious education to our children. The Holy Quran is the best guide for us and we should follow its teachings in letter and spirit,” he said.

Other imams of nearby masjids who spoke on the occasion included Molvi Shahnawaz Ahmad, Molvi Aijaz-ul-Hassan Wani, Molvi Abu Baqar and Molvi Waseem. All of them appealed to the people to come forward to play their role in preparing against drug menace. “Religious leaders have an important role and we will always be at forefront to fight drug menace.”

 

Samaji Welfare Society is an amalgam of various mohalla and masjid committees of Noorbagh area.

 

Dr Asima Hassan, the General Secretary of the SACPPE said the organization plans to hold such events besides mental health camps across Kashmir in coming months.

“The biggest contribution towards society in present times will be to approach solutions rather than discussing problems. The society at large is in deep crisis and we need to come up with solutions,” Dr Asima, who has done her doctorate from Kashmir University, said.

She said the SACPPE is purely an initiative of like-minded people, who were contributing for holding such events. “Even the small contributions of the members are being deposited in a bank account and every penny spent is accounted for. Transparency and accountability will be the hallmark of the organization,” she vowed.

 

Zeenat Mukhtar, one of the members of the SACPPE in her address said that the aim of holding such events was not just to spread awareness among people, especially youth, about the hazards of drug abuse, but to do follow ups to reach out to those who were in need of help.

“The SACPPE will take such programmes to every corner of Srinagar and Kashmir and in consultation with concerned departments and organisaions will come up with a concrete roadmap to provide succor to those who have already fallen prey to the drug menace,” she said.

SACPPE is a government registered, non-profit and apolitical organisation which is working for the cause of all round development of the society and promotion of education, research and learning. (KNS)