Srinagar, Dec 25: A one-day awareness-cum-signature campaign against the menace of drug-abuse was organised by South Asia Center for Peace and Peoples Empowerment (SACPPE), a non-profit organisation, in collaboration with Srinagar Police at Eidgah Public Park of old city Srinagar on Sunday.
The event was attended by a large number of people, including heads of mohalla committees, masjid committees and youth, who pledged to fight against the menace of drugs. More than two hundred children, youth and elderly people signed a pledge banner and vowed that they would put every effort in their area to eradicate the menace of drugs.
While highlighting the hazards of drug abuse, Superintendent of Police (SP), City North Srinagar, Raja Zuhaib said drug abuse has reached to an alarming proportion and society has to join hands with the police to curb the menace.
“In some masjids, religious preachers have started educating people about the dangers of drug abuse. But there is a need to take it beyond that to colleges and schools and public places like this,” he said.
The SP Zuhaib urged the organizers of the SACPPE to take such programmes to every corner of Srinagar and Kashmir.
Umar Bhat, Vice-President, SACPPE in his address said that drug abuse in Kashmir was intricately linked to mental health issues. “There is, therefore, an immediate need for stakeholders to provide relief, rehabilitation and social reintegration for affected people.”
While vowing that the SACPPE will continue to fight against the menace of drugs and other social evils in Kashmir, he said, “We will reach out at grass-roots level to educate people about the ills of drug abuse. We will soon hold such events at district and tehsil level across Kashmir.”
Bhat appealed to the religious leaders to come out with a concrete plan to find compassionate solutions for drug abuse victims. “Mere statements, slogans and condemnations won’t work now. Religious leaders and masjid committees have an important role to curb the drug menace and other social evils,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Zaman Noor, a businessman and a social worker said drug users face social stigma, beginning in their own families. “There is a need to reach out to those who have already fallen prey to this menace and get them out of this mess. I hope the SACPPE will reach out to such people with a helping hand,” he said.
Others who spoke on the occasion included Sajjad Ahmad Bhat, a private school owner, Shabir Ahmad Lone, a businessman, Riyaz Ahmad, a social activist and others. SHO Safakadal, Sheikh Waseem and DO Noorbagh, Amandeep Singh were also present on the occasion.
SACPPE is a government registered, non-profit and apolitical organisation which is working for the cause of all round development of the society and promotion of education, research and learning.
