Depression on rise in Kashmir: Minister H&ME Sakina Itoo

Says, "growing drug abuse in youth is another major concern"

Srinagar, Nov 13: Minister of Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Sakina Itoo on Wednesday said that the government is mulling over a compact policy to address the issues of growing depression among the children, youth and elderly in Kashmir besides framing a mechanism to curb the menace of drug abuse in the Valley.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function at SKICC here, the Minister of Health & Medical Education (H&ME) said that there is no denial in this fact that in Kashmir from youth to children to elderly lot, everyone is facing the problem of depression for the reasons known to all. “We are planning a collective approach to address this genuine concern. And for that all stakeholders will be consulted before starting the policy to address this burning issue,” she  said.

She said that apart from the depression, growing drug abuse is another major concern which is consuming the young lot of Kashmir. “Today’s function will deliberate upon the need of addressing the drug addiction among the youth and counter measures,” she said.

To a query about recruitment policy, she said let’s not dig the past and focus on the future. “We will advertise the posts in a sequence. Vacant posts will be referred to the concerned agencies for advertisement shortly,” she said.