Srinagar, Jul 11 : While expressing serious concern over the media reports about steep rise in drug addiction in Kashmir, CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami today appealed the society as whole to wake up from slumber to counter this menace which is destroying our young generation. Kashmir has been through the three decades of turmoil that resulted in increase in psychosocial disturbances. According to experts most numbers of drug addiction cases belong to a very young generation which is not only unfortunate, but disastrous for the society.

In a statement issued, Tarigami said, “The grim picture of drug abuse in the Kashmir has put a lot of challenges for the people of the valley in general and for Government agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations in particular. The biggest challenge is the illegal trafficking and sale of drugs within the valley to which police and civil society have an important role to play.”

“Law enforcing agencies, media, civil society, traders, students, teachers and everyone has to join hand and eradicate the drug abuse menace from the society. A drug to which a person becomes addict does not merely impair his cognitive skills and behaviour but also permanently damage certain abilities depending on the amount of a dose. In addition to the impairment of brain, drug addiction also makes people vulnerable to other health risks. The J&K Police have taken an initiative by conducted awareness programs in different areas, but more work needs to be done to eliminate the menace. There are reports that some elements within law enforcing agencies are hand-in-glove with the drug dealers. They need to be identified, isolated and finally punished according to the law,” he said.

CPI (M) leader said, “Government must launch measures aimed at mitigating, and possibly eliminating, drug use by 2020. The other challenge is the limited facilities available for rehabilitation of drug addicts. More drug de addiction centres are needed to rehabilitate the victims.”

“Government Agencies, Educational institutes NGO’s and other social work institutes need to educate people especially young generation about this problem. The awareness on the part of parents and caretakers is also an issue to tackle so that they can detect this problem as early as possible and they can provide immediate help to the person,” he added.

Nadeem Nabi Teli

Sopore, July 11 : A drug de-addiction programme was held at Arqum Institute of Education School Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday in which students, teachers participated.

The motive of the programme was to aware students regarding harmful use of drugs.

On the occasion speakers including teachers presented speech about the drug menace.

Teachers in their speeches advised the students to abstain from drugs, smoking and other vices.

Meanwhile teachers while talking with Kashmir Despatch said that the program was aimed to create awareness about hazards of drug abuse in teens, so that they can be make aware others as well and can be away with this increasing virus and can live happily.

Later, a drug rally was also held with a massage that Drug de-addiction is a serious problem which is required to be addressed and it is moral duty of one and all to contribute in its eradication.

Meanwhile Principal of the institute Miss Tahira urged the participants to pledge to work whole heartedly against the menace of drug addiction. She stressed the need to spread the message far and wide to save the new generation from getting perished by drugs.

Srinagar

The Anganwadi workers and helpers workers on Thursday took out a protest with a set of demands in Srinagar. Raising slogans in favour of their demand,  the protesting workers have blocked the Srinagar’s all-time busy M A road outside Press enclave, thus hampering the traffic movement.

Seeking regularization and other policies, the protesting workers said that government has defeated the purpose of the Anganwadi workers by not implanting the regularization salary and other policies.

The protesting workers also complained that workers had not received grants from a long time and the lack of the grants is directly efect9ing their families.

The protest demonstration was going on when this report was filed.

Suhail Khan

Uri, July 11 : 20 days after two people, including a 30-year old woman was mauled by stray dogs in Uri sector of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, 6 people were injured in fresh attacks in border Town on Thursday morning.

Reports reaching said that six people became fresh victims of stray dogs today morning at Dawaran village of Uri.

In Dawaran Uri, a group of stray dogs attacked and injured 6 people, including a woman and a 70-year-old man.

He said that all the injured have been taken to the sub district hospital Uri for treatment.

A doctor at SDH also confirmed to news agency that six persons with dog bite injuries were received at the health facility.

The doctor identified tbe injured as Haji Mohamamad Ashraf (70), Arbaz Ahmed (13) who have been shiffted to Srinagar hospital, Dawood Ahmed and Amana Bano and Tanjeet have been shiffted to District hospital Baramulla for advance treatment, while Binya Amin is undergoing treatment here at SDH Uri doctor added.

The fresh attack by the stray dogs created panic among the local populace of the area.

Meanwhile, locals of the area appealed to the authorities to intervence into the issue so that there will be no panic-like situation again and people can safely move from one place to another. (GNS)