Leh, April 29: Advisor to Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Umang Narula chaired the1^st State Level meeting of Narco Coordination Center (NCORD). The NCORD is a mechanism for effective coordination among all the drug enforcement agencies and other stakeholders, and also to provide a common platform for discussions on drug-trafficking-related issues.

Deputy Director General (NR) NCB, Gyaneshwar Singh gave a comprehensive presentation on ‘NCORD Mechanism’ and the current drug scenario. He informed the meeting that the number of drug users in India has increased by 7 times during the period 2004-2019. In the meeting, ADGP, Ladakh apprised the Advisor that the department is in consultation with National Forensic Science University, Gujarat for recruiting manpower and procuring the specialized equipment for combating drug trafficking and the use of illegal substances within six months. He added that a dedicated canine squad is also in place which has been training in Narco and Sniffer activities.

While taking stock of the existing drug abuse cases and trafficking scenario in Ladakh, the Advisor stated that mass awareness campaigns in schools and colleges are of utmost importance as the drug menace mostly afflicts children and adolescents. He also deliberated on the requirement of counseling centers, rehabilitation and drug deaddiction centers and reiterated that Drug users should be treated as victims who need rehabilitation and not as criminals. To control drug abuse by visitors, the Advisor exhorted to display signage prohibiting consumption and trafficking of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic substancein public places.

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Principal Secretary, Health and Medical Education Dept, Dr Pawan Kotwal stressed the need for hiring experts like psychologists/ psychiatrists to deal with substance abuse disorder on a grassroots level.

Commissioner/ Secretary, School Education Dept, Ajeet Kumar Sahu apprised the Advisor that E-pledge ‘Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs’ have been introduced in schools. Advisor also urged all the officers to give massive coverage to E-pledge in awareness campaigns held in schools, colleges and all govt. offices.

Commissioner/ Secretary, Higher Education Dept, Padma Angmo stressed the need to focus on the prevention of drugs among children by sensitizing them through localized films and creatives.

Concluding the meeting, the Advisor exhorted all the participants to make a conscious and collective effort to fulfill the vision to make UT Ladakh drug-free.

The meeting was attended by the Administrative Secretary, School Education; Additional Director General of Police, Ladakh; Dy. Director General (NR), NCB (through VC); ADG, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Ludhiana Zonal unit (through VC); Administrative Secretary, Social Welfare Department; Administrative Secretary, Higher Education; Additional Secretary, Home Department; Dy. Excise Commissioner, Ladakh; Zonal Director, NCB Jammu and Assistant Controller Drugs, Ladakh.