Maj Gen SS Slaria, GOC Kilo Force interacted with the NGOs from North Kashmir at Sharifabad. Speaking to the prominent NGOs who are actively involved in the drive against drug abuse and illicit trafficking the GOC expressed concern over the youth falling prey to the vicious circle of drugs. He further added a joint strategy against this evil is the need of hour. There is a need to increase community collaboration to reduce substance abuse and align community awareness and increase access to self building opportunities for parents & adults working with youth.
The goal of all the NGOs should be to work alongside the government to educate & enable Kashmiri youth to reject drugs. This goal includes preventing drug use & encouraging occasional users to discontinue its use. He emphasized working at multiple layers towards effective results on ground.
The GOC gave a patience hearing to all representatives of the NGOs and he praised the efforts being adopted by them. He said that Kashmiri youth must be encouraged to get engaged in various activities like sports, education, skill development and needs to mingle with his peer group, parents, friends and so on so that he doesn’t feel lonely and depressed. The parents and the guardian must keep a watch on the behaviour of their young children so they can take necessary measures.
Some suggestions were also shared by the guests that the parents and the guardians must approach the civil administration for their help in rehabilitation of their children. Any information of drug peddlers with evidence need to be given to the Police for action. Equal responsibilities of parents, friends, peer groups and the teachers can only be ensure drug free society in Kashmir. In the end the GOC affirmed the need of heterogeneous working in a homogenous environment.