• Calls for drug-free Panchayats, strict action against traffickers and measurable weekly outcomes
• Urges youth-led movement, says fight against drugs must go beyond enforcement to community action
Srinagar: “I assure citizens that we will strike hard against drug networks. Yet this fight cannot be won by law alone; it must be won within society through awareness, cooperation, and collective effort. We are building a Jammu and Kashmir where drugs have no place,” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Saturday.
He said the 100-day drug-free J&K movement will inspire future generations and stand as proof that when people unite, they can bring about transformative change.
Addressing a large gathering in Samba as part of the ongoing campaign, the Lieutenant Governor stressed that every Panchayat must be drug-free and every police station must be cleared of drug traffickers.
“Success in the next 85 days will not be measured by marches or slogans, but by how effectively the drug menace is eliminated from villages and urban neighbourhoods. Weekly outcomes must be clear—how many people were rehabilitated, how many smugglers prosecuted, how many fake centres shut down, how many cases registered, how much contraband seized, and how many women’s committees formed in Panchayats and city wards,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasised the need for continuous auditing of the campaign, directing Deputy Commissioners, SSPs and other enforcement agencies to review weekly activities and ensure the movement builds a comprehensive chain of care—from identification and counselling to treatment, recovery and rehabilitation.
He also observed that the drug crisis has been systematically fuelled by forces across the border to finance terrorism and destabilise society, with youth being the primary target.
“Now is the time to confront this challenge with full strength, applying the strictest laws against those who conspire against society. For the next 85 days, we must sustain momentum, reach every household, and raise awareness about the dangers of drugs. Drug addiction is not an individual issue; it is a societal crisis,” he added.
Highlighting the people’s participation, the Lieutenant Governor said the movement has evolved into a collective resolve, with parents, elders, teachers and even survivors stepping forward to spread awareness and guide the youth.
“Jammu and Kashmir is now illuminated with a renewed resolve against drugs. It is a flame of hope that will dispel darkness, erase fear and shape a better future. The transformation witnessed in the past 15 days is nothing short of remarkable,” he said. On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor flagged off a bike rally and launched the Samba Cricket Premier League under the NashaMukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyaan.
