Schools to Set Up On-Site De-Addiction Units in Kashmir: Div Com | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, on Wednesday chaired a meeting to review and strengthen measures to tackle the rising issue of substance abuse in the Valley.

Emphasising the need for coordinated and sustained action, Garg directed educational institutions, including schools and colleges, to establish on-site de-addiction mechanisms within their campuses. Each institution has been asked to appoint one male and one female nodal officer responsible for implementing Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities, student counselling, identification of vulnerable individuals, and continuous monitoring of affected students.

Wakf authorities were instructed to organise orientation programmes for religious leaders to leverage their influence in creating awareness about the dangers of substance abuse and promoting social responsibility.

For coaching centres and student accommodations, IMHANS was tasked with developing a structured monitoring framework to ensure effective oversight of these hubs. Meanwhile, the Director of Health Services was asked to prepare a comprehensive training calendar to develop a trained pool of resource persons for educational institutions.

Directors of Colleges and Schools were directed to submit lists of staff members to be trained and assigned responsibilities for identifying, counselling, and monitoring students vulnerable to substance abuse. The Divisional Commissioner also stressed the importance of regular awareness sessions, maintaining performance reports, and documenting and sharing success stories.

The Police Department was instructed to increase surveillance of identified drug hotspots in Srinagar and other districts in coordination with the Health Department.

The meeting was attended by DC Srinagar Akshay Labroo; Director School Education; Director Social Welfare; Joint Director Information; officials from Health Services, Higher Education, IMHANS, Wakf Board, Police Department; and civil society representatives.