Khurshid Ganai calls for strict action against drug abuse in Kashmir

Kulgam, Oct 4: Khurshid A. Ganai, retired IAS officer and former Advisor to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, on Saturday called for strict enforcement of drug laws to curb rising substance abuse in the Valley and urged young people to play an active role in building a drug-free society.

“Both the NDPS and PNDPS Acts should be implemented stringently to keep this menace out of our homes and communities,” said Ganai, who heads the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC).

He was speaking as the chief guest at an awareness programme on substance abuse at Government Degree College, Kulgam, organised by the Chief Medical Officer, Kulgam, in collaboration with the college.

Highlighting the alarming scale of the problem, Ganai said that lakhs of people in Jammu and Kashmir are caught in the grip of substance abuse. “In a reply to a question in Parliament last year, the government revealed that around 13 lakh people in the Union Territory are affected,” Ganai said. “It is around 10 percent of the population,” he added.

Ganai noted that history bears witness to entire nations being ruined by drug addiction. “Are we moving in the same direction?” he asked. He stressed that the drug menace cannot be curbed unless society as a whole is actively involved.

Urging students to act as “drug warriors” and take the lead in combating the menace, he asked, “How can you become officers, scientists, scholars, or digital warriors if you are caught in drugs?” he told the auditorium packed with young college students.

Ganai emphasised the crucial role of mothers and sisters in curbing drug abuse, noting that they are often the first to notice changes in a child’s behaviour. “Families are the frontline in identifying early signs of substance abuse,” he said, urging women to stay vigilant and guide their children away from drugs.

He said society must also address other pressing challenges, including environmental degradation. “People’s movements should focus on protecting our environment, which has suffered greatly over the years,” he said, highlighting the decline of rivers, forests, and other natural resources.

He urged young people to take an active role in preserving and restoring ecological balance.

Athar Aamir Khan, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam, in his address, highlighted the role of the administration in curbing drug addiction. “We registered around 212 FIRs and arrested 265 peddlers last year,” he said. “We also ensured proper prosecution,” he added.

The Deputy Commissioner said the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) has been made operational with additional layers. “Besides the district and tehsil levels, it now covers gram panchayats. It is a robust monitoring system structured in a pyramidal hierarchy,” he added. Authorities also monitor deserted buildings that could become drug dens, as well as the emergence of new drug users or peddlers.

“We have changed the vocabulary here. Instead of calling them drug addicts, we refer to them as victims,” the Deputy Commissioner said. “This is because families are often stigmatised, precisely at a time when they need the most support.”

He added that by 2025, the district will have achieved 100 per cent zero poppy cultivation, converting land to maize, paddy, and other vegetables. Since 2022, more than 650 patients have been rehabilitated. “We also receive patients from other districts,” he added.

Dr Zubair, Founder and Chairman of Moul Mouj, said peer pressure is a major cause of drug abuse. “Every minute, 120 young people in India face peer pressure, but only a few give in to it,” he added.

Zubair said children aged 13 to 15 are particularly vulnerable, and children as young as nine have been caught in substance use. He, however, noted that recovery rates after rehabilitation are encouraging and emphasised the importance of moral courage to “say no to drugs.”

In his brief but powerful address, former IFS officer Manzoor Ahmad Tak urged parents to closely monitor their children. He said young people should be engaged in various activities to keep them away from drugs and stressed the role of civil society in curbing the menace. “Art and culture could play a key role in diverting youth from drugs and promoting awareness about the impacts of substance abuse,” Tak said.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Additional Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Waqar Ahmad, Mohammad Abbas Shah, Principal Degree College Kulgam, and Dr Qaisar Mir, Dr Mohammad Safeer Khan, Dr Masarat, and others.