Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Nov 24: A District level NCORD committee meeting was organized in the District Deputy Commissioner’s office in Samba here today. The meeting was presided over by District Deputy Commissioner Samba Abhishek Sharma.
The main objective of the meeting was to discuss various issues related to drug trafficking and the enforcement action taken against the offenders.
Based on the valuable feedback received from the previous meeting, District Magistrate stressed on further strengthening the ongoing efforts to prevent drug addiction.
An important suggestion was the appointment of drug-free brand ambassadors in all higher education and school education institutions. The initiative aims to raise awareness and effectively engage youth. Further, the DM directed Chief Education Officer Samba to identify students with a history of absenteeism as they could be potential drug abusers. SDMs and Tehsildars were ordered to conduct surprise inspections, so that monitoring of attendance could be intensified.
The Health Department was contacted to provide updates on household surveys on drug-related issues. Additionally, the District Magistrate recommended that the Assistant Commissioner, Labour Department organize special awareness camps and seminars with special focus on Samba industrial and peri-industrial sectors. A detailed calendar for these awareness programs is to be prepared by the Assistant Commissioner, Labor Department, Samba.
Also, the Sports Department was advised to organize evening sports competitions with special attention to the border areas.
The meeting concluded with a strong call to ensure that de-addiction centers work with unwavering dedication, recognizing their vital role in addressing substance abuse issues. It was specifically mentioned that stakeholders should avoid stigmatizing first-time offenders and instead adopt a rehabilitative approach to deal with individuals involved in drug-related crimes.
Additional District Deputy Commissioner Samba Suresh Chandra Sharma, ICDS Department District Officer Dr. Subhash Chander, Additional District Deputy Commissioner Revenue Dr. Kusum Chib, Border Security Force officials and officials of other related departments were present in the meeting.