District Admin Ganderbal engages religious leaders, village officials in anti-drug drive

Ganderbal, Apr 30: In a significant step towards strengthening the grassroots outreach of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA@100), the District Administration Ganderbal convened a one-day sensitisation conference with Imams, religious leaders, Lumberdars and Chowkidars drawn from across the district at the Conference Hall, Mini Secretariat here.

The conference, chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Ganderbal, Syed Faheem Bihaqi brought together frontline community voices to collectively address the growing challenge of drug and substance abuse.  Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR) Ganderbal, S. Salah-u-Din; Sub-Divisional Magistrate Kangan, Nazir Ahmad, and other senior officers and officials of the district administration were also present on the occasion. The deliberations centred on the alarming rise of drug abuse among the youth and the urgent need for society to respond in a united and proactive manner. Participants were reminded that the fight against narcotics is not the responsibility of the administration alone, it demands active engagement from every corner of the community, particularly from those who hold positions of trust and influence at the local level.

Addressing the gathering, Additional Deputy Commissioner underscored the indispensable role that religious leaders and village-level functionaries play in shaping public opinion and behaviour. He called upon the Imams to incorporate awareness messages in their Friday sermons and community gatherings, and urged Lumberdars and Chowkidars to serve as the eyes and ears of the administration at the village level in identifying and reporting drug-related activity.

He emphasized that 100-Day NMBA must evolve from a government initiative into a genuine people’s movement, and that its success depends on the collective will of every citizen.

The officers present also highlighted the critical importance of moral guidance, timely intervention and community vigilance in preventing young people from falling prey to substance abuse. It was stressed that early identification, family support and social accountability are among the most effective tools in combating this menace before it takes deeper root.