KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Calling for a multi-pronged strategy to deal with the menace of drug abuse, Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti Sunday said the hazard of drug addiction can be tackled only through effective collaboration between the government and non-government organizations including civil society.
Interacting with a delegation of Civil Society Forum Kashmir (CFSK) headed by leading businessman Waseem Tramboo, the Chief Minister said drug trafficking and drug abuse have become a menacing problem in the society and it needs to be curbed comprehensively and with determination, an official spokesperson said this evening.
She said government efforts alone can’t achieve much on this count and an inclusive strategy needs to be adopted involving parents, religious heads, civil society, schools, health educators and NGOs to take on this menace effectively.
“Drug trafficking and drug addiction has become a major problem for many families, communities and for the law enforcement agencies and if it continues like this, it would take significant toll on valuation of human lives and loss of productive years of youth,” she said and added that the youth need to educated about the deadly side effects of drug abuse including cancer, AIDS, cardiac, pulmonary and renal disorders besides leading the victim into the realm of psychiatric and social troubles.
“It was better that the youth understood the ills of drug abuse and refrained from any indulgence that might jeopardize their bright career and future,” she said.
To keep the youth, especially the educated unemployed, away from drugs, the Chief Minister called for skill enhancement of the young boys and girls to make productive use of their potentialities so that they can have alternative source of income.
Earlier, Umar Tramboo and the members of the delegation accompanying him, including some Psychiatrists, informed the Chief Minister about the menace of the drug abuse in Kashmir and the steps needed to be taken to control it.
They called for constitution of an over-arching body to deal with the menace of drug abuse.
The other members of the delegation included Dr Altaf Hussain (Child Specialist), Dr Mairaj-ud-Din (ex-Director SKIMS), Mohammad Yasin Khan (Chairman Kashmir Economic Alliance-Y), Mohammad Ashraf Mir (President, Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir), Dr Mohammad Ishaq Gheer (University of Kashmir), Mohammad Iqbal Tramboo (Businessman), Shuja-ul-Haq (Journalist) and Dr Ishfaq.
The delegation also included Psychiatrists from De-addiction Centre, Police Hospital and from SMHS Hospital.
