Comprehensive UT-wide campaign under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan to target prevention, treatment, enforcement and rehabilitation
LEH: With a strong emphasis on coordinated action, early intervention and community participation, Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review and finalize preparations for the upcoming UT-wide Drug-Free Ladakh Campaign under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, directing all departments to adopt a mission-mode approach to tackle substance abuse across the region.
The campaign, to be implemented across Ladakh over the coming month, aims to combine awareness, prevention, enforcement, treatment and rehabilitation while mobilising every section of society to address the growing challenge of drug abuse, particularly among youth.
During the meeting, Secretary, Social and Tribal Welfare, Nidhi Malik, presented the roadmap for the campaign, informing that nodal officers have already been designated to ensure smooth coordination. She said the campaign would feature awareness rallies, educational camps, community outreach programmes, competitions, IEC activities, video campaigns and extensive public engagement initiatives across the Union Territory. Financial assistance provided by the concerned Union Ministry will be utilised in a phased and outcome-oriented manner to maximise the campaign’s impact.
Reviewing the preparations, the Chief Secretary stressed that the initiative must evolve into a sustained social movement rather than remain limited to conventional awareness programmes. He called for the active involvement of religious leaders, community organisations, student bodies, transport unions, educational institutions and civil society groups, asserting that visibility, measurable outcomes and effective implementation should guide the campaign.
Kundra directed the Police, Education, Health and Social Welfare departments to adopt a coordinated strategy focusing on prevention, education, enforcement and rehabilitation, while strengthening awareness programmes in schools, colleges and other vulnerable sections of society.
The meeting also focused extensively on identifying high-risk groups and strengthening grassroots intervention. A Consultant Psychiatrist from the Health Department highlighted that school dropouts, unemployed youth and individuals living away from their families in rented accommodations remain among the most vulnerable groups and are often difficult to reach through conventional awareness campaigns.
She recommended training Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) to identify early symptoms of substance abuse, conduct village-level orientation programmes and facilitate timely counselling and treatment referrals. She further advocated engaging children and recovering patients in skill-based and recreational activities to support long-term rehabilitation.
Accepting the suggestions, the Chief Secretary directed departments to integrate them into the campaign strategy. He proposed random assessments in villages, hostels and educational institutions to identify emerging drug abuse trends and potential hotspots. He also sought targeted interventions among labourers, truck drivers, project workers and other vulnerable occupational groups, emphasising behavioural change alongside enforcement.
To strengthen community support systems, Kundra instructed departments to develop specialised awareness modules for ASHA workers, ANMs, teachers and parents. He also called for greater involvement of village representatives, including Nambardars, in spreading awareness and reporting concerns. Stressing wider accessibility to support services, he directed that the drug helpline number be aggressively promoted through social media, WhatsApp groups and other digital platforms.
Highlighting the importance of evidence-based policymaking, the Chief Secretary directed the Health Department and the Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centre (DDAC) to maintain a comprehensive digital database of patients undergoing treatment, rehabilitation and follow-up care. He also ordered a detailed analysis of recent drug abuse cases, covering geographical distribution, age profile, occupations and social backgrounds, to facilitate targeted interventions.
Officials informed the meeting that the Drug De-addiction Centre is currently managing 126 opioid-related cases, including follow-up patients, while 71 individuals are undergoing treatment for hepatitis associated with substance abuse.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed proposals for outreach teams and mobile intervention services to provide assistance to vulnerable individuals at their homes, directing departments to further strengthen such mechanisms.
The Police Department presented a detailed overview of NDPS enforcement during 2026, including seizure statistics, preventive measures, awareness initiatives, de-addiction support and implementation of decisions taken during NCORD meetings.
Seeking stronger action against organised drug networks, Kundra asked for detailed information on the profiles of drug peddlers, repeat offenders and criminal syndicates. He directed the Police Department to intensify surveillance in vulnerable areas, strengthen night patrolling in markets and expand intelligence-led policing while reviewing the effectiveness of existing measures such as sniffer dog deployment and inter-agency coordination.
Recognising the growing influence of digital media on young people, the Chief Secretary instructed departments to collaborate with social media experts and local influencers to create impactful short videos promoting a drug-free lifestyle. He also emphasised expanding youth engagement through sports, cultural programmes and rural games in collaboration with organisations such as the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) under civic action initiatives.
Kundra further proposed introducing recognition and incentive mechanisms for ASHA workers, ANMs, teachers and villages demonstrating exemplary efforts in preventing drug abuse. He stressed sustained engagement with transport associations, labour unions and community organisations, observing that most narcotic substances enter Ladakh from outside the region, making stronger coordination among enforcement agencies and community stakeholders essential.
Calling for an integrated and time-bound response, the Chief Secretary directed the Social and Tribal Welfare Department to consolidate recommendations from all departments into a comprehensive action plan for presentation at the next NCORD meeting, scheduled within the next ten days. He instructed all departments to bridge existing gaps, enhance inter-departmental coordination and implement actionable interventions within defined timelines.
The meeting was attended by the Director General of Police, Divisional Commissioner, Secretaries of various departments, Deputy Commissioner Leh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Director Health Services, Chief Planning Officer and other senior officials, while Deputy Commissioners of other districts and several officers participated virtually.
