Shopian, Jun 29 (KNO): Hundreds of people gathered on Saturday for a seminar on the war against drugs held at Al Saba Educational Institute in Shopian’s Wachi village.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the seminar was organized by the NGO "We the Kashmir Foundation" in collaboration with Al-Saba Educational Institute Wachi.
Students of the school highlighted the impacts of drug addiction on youths and their families.
In his address, SDPO Zainapora Sunil Kumar Sharma praised the participants for their active involvement and emphasized the need to protect the young generation from drug abuse, describing it as a serious societal challenge. He underscored the importance of spreading awareness through various mediums and urged different sections of society to act decisively against the issue, assuring all possible support from the administration.
Dr Tanveer Hayat stressed the crucial role of parents, who act as friends, philosophers, and guides for their children. He urged parents to closely monitor their children's activities, particularly those involving mobile phones and the internet, to prevent them from falling into harmful behaviors.
Dr Tawseef Bhat called on locals, including preachers and teachers, to join forces to eradicate the drug menace from society. He pointed out that a lack of parental care and affection is a major factor driving youth towards drug addiction.
Aafiqa Ali and Sajad Ahmad also highlighted the significant responsibility of parents in the social development of a child, noting that parents are their first teachers and guides.
Other speakers reiterated the role of the police department, advocating for stringent actions against drug peddlers.
They emphasized the importance of cherishing life as a precious gift and urged parents to be vigilant and educate their children about the dangers of drug abuse.
Organizers including Chairman Waqar Ahmad and President Jahangeer Ahmad stated that the seminar aimed to raise awareness among the youth and the general public about the dangers of drugs, their devastating effects and the steps needed to eradicate this menace from society.
They described the drug issue as an epidemic that is ruining the future of Jammu and Kashmir and sought the youth's help in spreading awareness.
They noted that Wachi and Melhoora are hotspots for drug peddlers and addicts which is why they chose this area for the seminar to educate the community about the harmful effects of drugs.
The participants were briefed on the early symptoms of drug abuse, encouraging parents to stay vigilant at home.
The stage in charge for the event was social activist Hussain Zalpori—(KNO)