District Magistrate Jammu Dr Rakesh Minhas has ordered the constitution of Village and Ward-Level Nasha Nigrani Samitis across all villages and wards of District Jammu. The initiative forms part of the Lieutenant Governor’s 100-day anti-drug campaign.
The Samitis, comprising responsible local residents, shall function as community-driven surveillance and referral bodies with a four-fold mandate—detection and surveillance, referral and family support, prevention and awareness and weekly reporting.
Each Samiti would work to prevent the sale of banned narcotic substances, identify individuals showing signs of drug abuse and maintain a confidential village register. Members shall also conduct at least one community awareness activity every week and engage parents and youth in drug-vulnerable households. The administration aims to declare each village a “Drug Free Village” within 90 days.
The Samitis would serve as a non-stigmatising first point of contact for families affected by addiction, guiding them to the nearest Addiction Treatment Facilitation Centre or Block PHC. Their role shall focus on referral and support, not punitive action.
A District Control Room has been established in the Emergency Operations Centre at the Deputy Commissioner’s office to ensure real-time coordination and prompt response to inputs shared by the Samitis.
Block Development Officers have been assigned supervisory responsibilities, while Sub-Divisional Magistrates and Superintendents of Police shall oversee performance reviews. The administration would honour top-performing Samitis and members with the ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva Samman’ at Republic Day and Independence Day functions.
The District Magistrate has urged all citizens to actively support the Samitis and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to making District Jammu drug-free through collective community participation.
