Srinagar, Aug 02 (KNO): Calling Jammu and Kashmir’s youth the driving force behind a developed India, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday said there would be no place for drugs or drug traffickers in the Union Territory, asserting that the fight against narcotics must combine strict enforcement with rehabilitation and active public participation.
Launching the Nasha Mukt Yuva–Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan at SKUAST-K’s Shalimar Convention Centre, virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sinha, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said India’s young population must emerge as the country’s greatest strength instead of falling prey to substance abuse.
“Nearly 65 per cent of India’s population is below the age of 35. Our youth must become co-creators in every initiative aimed at building a developed India. Today, I see a strong sense of resolve among the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. They are excelling in every field and together we will build a Jammu and Kashmir where there is no place for drugs or drug traffickers,” Sinha said.
Referring to the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, launched by the Prime Minister in 2020, the Lieutenant Governor said the new campaign aims to transform the country’s youth into the growth engine of Viksit Bharat by steering them away from substance abuse.
Highlighting the achievements of Jammu and Kashmir’s 100-day Drug-Free Campaign, conducted from April 11 to July 20, Sinha said around 2,300 FIRs were registered, nearly 2,600 persons arrested, and about 1,500 kilograms of narcotic substances seized during the drive.
He said authorities also confiscated more than 331 properties belonging to narco-terrorists and drug smugglers, while properties worth over Rs 200 crore were attached by the police and civil administration.
The Lieutenant Governor said more than 370 driving licences were cancelled and the registrations of over 750 vehicles revoked. Recommendations have also been made for the cancellation of over 3,000 Aadhaar cards of individuals allegedly linked to the narcotics network.
“Our policy against drug traffickers and the narco-terror ecosystem is uncompromising. Strict action is being taken against those involved in the drug trade, including those availing government facilities, licences or security cover,” he said.
Stressing that drug addicts should not be viewed merely as offenders, Sinha said they deserve treatment, counselling and rehabilitation.
He announced that the Rehabilitation and Socio-Economic Reintegration Scheme for Drug Abuse Victims-2026 would soon be launched on a pilot basis in one district each of the Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
The scheme, he said, will initially focus on medical treatment, counselling and rehabilitation, followed by education, skill development, employment, family support and social reintegration. The final phase will emphasise long-term monitoring and relapse prevention.
Calling for a whole-of-society approach, Sinha said the fight against drugs must simultaneously target the supply chain, spread awareness and ensure the rehabilitation of affected youth.
He urged parents, teachers, My Bharat volunteers, Nehru Yuva Kendras and youth clubs to carry the anti-drug message to every village, school, college and household.
The Lieutenant Governor said over one crore youth are participating in the campaign at nearly 10,000 locations across the country, while similar programmes are being organised throughout Jammu and Kashmir. He added that the campaign would continue every Sunday for the next 100 weeks, expressing confidence that collective efforts would help make Jammu and Kashmir drug-free—(KNO)