Dulloo directs formation of Rehab Task Force, Training of Counsellors across J&K
Jammu: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to thoroughly assess the multi-departmental efforts and progress under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) across the districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting concluded with several critical directives aimed at intensifying the campaign, streamlining coordination, and establishing a robust mechanism for the rehabilitation of addiction-affected individuals.
Addressing the meeting the Chief Secretary emphasized the urgent need to address the drug crisis by establishing a dedicated Task Force led by the Principal Secretary of Home, which will include Administrative Heads from various departments. This Task Force is tasked with developing comprehensive rehabilitation proposals tailored to different age groups. A significant focus will be on training counselors in every Panchayat, Health Center, and educational institution across Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Master Trainers will be trained at IMHANS in Srinagar and Jammu to facilitate decentralized training sessions, with videography suggested for broader dissemination of these sessions. The Information Department has been appointed as the nodal agency to coordinate activities related to the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) across all departments, with a directive to seek financial support from the Government of India under the National Fund for Control of Drug Abuse. All departments are required to align their NMBA activities and report them on a centralized portal managed by the Department of Information and Public Relations. Commissioner Secretary Sarmad Hafeez provided an overview of the NMBA’s achievements, highlighting that the campaign has reached over 10.9 million people through more than 12,500 activities, including extensive outreach to educational institutions and vulnerable groups. A recent three-month campaign by the Ministry of Social Justice further engaged over 220,000 individuals, particularly youth. The collaborative efforts of various departments have been crucial to the success of the Abhiyan, with the Information Department conducting over 5,300 events and the Rural Development Department engaging more than 300,000 participants. The Health & Medical Education Department has registered over 33,000 patients for treatment, while Drug Deaddiction Centres have provided significant support through numerous counseling sessions. Looking ahead, the meeting underscored the importance of awareness generation, rehabilitation, vocational training, education, and sustainable livelihoods as essential strategies to combat addiction. The Health Department announced that training for Master Trainers will begin immediately, aiming to create a pool of approximately 4,000 counselors over the next six months. The Chief Secretary concluded the meeting by encouraging all participants to commit to a drug-free India through personal abstinence and prevention efforts.
