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Kishtwar, March 31, 2026 A District-Level NCORD (Narco Coordination Centre) meeting was convened today under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Pankaj Kumar Sharma (JKAS), to comprehensively review the district’s response to drug abuse and to further reinforce ongoing anti-narcotics initiatives.
The meeting primarily centered on strengthening the institutional framework for drug de-addiction and evaluating the progress achieved under the Information, Education & Communication (IEC) campaign being implemented as part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
At the outset, District Social Welfare Officer Kishtwar, Tariq Parveaz Qazi (JKAS), presented a detailed Action Taken Report (ATR), highlighting the implementation status of decisions taken during the previous NCORD meeting.
During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner undertook an in-depth assessment of the prevailing drug abuse scenario across the district. He sought comprehensive inputs on vulnerable pockets, affected demographic groups, and identified hotspots requiring urgent and targeted interventions. He also reviewed the spectrum of preventive, rehabilitative, and enforcement measures being executed by various departments.
The Deputy Commissioner directed all concerned Heads of Departments (HoDs) of line departments to ensure the active participation of designated resource persons and officials in the IEC campaign under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
He cautioned that any instance of negligence or non-compliance would invite strict action.
The Deputy Commissioner instructed the CEO Kishtwar to continue large-scale awareness drives across educational institutions, with a focus on sensitizing students about the harmful consequences of substance abuse.
He further directed that all remaining institutions be declared Tobacco-Free Zones in strict adherence to TOFEI guidelines.
To bolster grassroots-level interventions, the Deputy Commissioner directed all Sub-Divisional Magistrates and Tehsildars to expedite the declaration of Panchayats as “Nasha Mukt” in accordance with prescribed Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs), ensuring due verification and active community participation.
He also directed the nomination of dedicated volunteers at the Sub-Division and Panchayat levels. These volunteers will function as key informants and community mobilizers, playing a pivotal role in curbing the menace of drug abuse at the grassroots level. Representatives of Sanatan Dharma Sabha Kishtwar, led by Mahant Shri Ram Saran Dass Ji Maharaj (President), were also present during the meeting.
The DC sought cooperation from the Sanatan Dharma Sabha in strengthening community-based anti-drug efforts by nominating volunteers at their level.
Later, the Deputy Commissioner held an interaction with Majlis-e-Shoura Committee Kishtwar, led by the Imam Jama Masjid Kishtwar, Jenab Farooq Ahmed Kitchloo Sahib, and asked for their support in combating the menace of drugs by nominating volunteers at their level.
The Deputy Commissioner sought their cooperation in mobilizing self-motivated volunteers to actively contribute to anti-drug efforts across the district.
The Deputy Commissioner stressed the need for continuous monitoring of suspicious drug consignments, particularly those routed through courier services.
The meeting was attended by SSP Kishtwar Naresh Singh (JKPS), ADC Kishtwar Pawan Kotwal (JKAS), ACR Kishtwar Idrees Lone, ACD Kishtwar Manoj Kumar, all SDMs (virtually), ALC Kishtwar Smt. Mamta Sudershan, ARTO Kishtwar Tasleem Wani, all Tehsildars (virtually), CAO Kishtwar Kushal Chandel, CMO Kishtwar Dr. Yudhvir Singh Kotwal, Dy. CEO Kishtwar Sh. Masood Ahmed Qazi, along with officers from the Excise & Taxation Department, Drugs and Food Control Organization, ATF Kishtwar, and other concerned departments.
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