Srinagar: A One-Day Training Camp for Nasha Mukth Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) Nodal Officers was successfully organised in hybrid mode at the Mini Auditorium of Islamia College of Science & Commerce, Srinagar.
The programme was organised by the Higher Education Department (HED) in collaboration with the Civil Society Forum Kashmir, with active participation from the Jammu & Kashmir Health Department, J&K Police and IMHANS Kashmir.
The training programme aimed to sensitise and equip NMBA Nodal Officers with practical knowledge and skills related to substance abuse prevention, early identification of substance users, mental health awareness, counselling mechanisms, rehabilitation strategies, and inter-departmental coordination.
More than 70 NMBA Nodal Officers from the Kashmir Division participated in the programme, while 71 Nodal Officers from the Jammu Division joined the programme virtually, reflecting wide institutional engagement across the Union Territory.
Prof. (Dr.) Sheikh Ajaz Bashir, Director Colleges, Higher Education Department (Member of the Task Force for Rehabilitation of Victims of Drug Abuse), in his inaugural address emphasised the need for coordinated and sustained efforts among academic institutions, health services, civil society organisations, and law enforcement agencies to effectively address substance abuse.
He stated that the Mentor–Mentee model in colleges will be further strengthened and made outcome-oriented, with a focused mandate to identify at-risk students, facilitate early intervention, and shield youth from substance abuse through mentoring and support mechanisms, including closer monitoring of student attendance patterns and timely flagging of absenteeism.
He further highlighted the importance of encouraging students to voice their concerns through the Higher Education Department’s initiatives such as the SIGMA platform, and reiterated the Department’s firm commitment to proactive interventions under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, while urging NMBA Nodal Officers to translate the learnings from the training programme into effective action at their respective institutions.
The host College Principal, Prof. (Dr.) Tehmina Yousuf, highlighted the growing concern of substance abuse among youth and underscored the critical role of educational institutions and NMBA Nodal Officers in prevention, early intervention, and awareness generation.
During the programme, Abdul Waheed Shah, SSP Crime Branch, Kashmir, and Mohd Anwar-ul-Haq, SSP Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), J&K, shared valuable insights on drug abuse trends, preventive mechanisms, and the legal framework governing antinarcotics efforts.
The technical sessions were conducted by experts from IMHANS Kashmir, who addressed mental health dimensions of substance use disorders, early identification of at-risk individuals, counselling strategies, and referral mechanis The sessions witnessed interactive participation from the NMBA Nodal Officers.
The training camp reaffirmed the collective commitment of all stakeholders towards creating a drug-free, healthy, and supportive academic environment. The Higher Education Department reiterated that sustained capacity building, awareness generation, and institutional ownership will remain central to its strategy in safeguarding the youth of Jammu & Kashmir from the menace of substance abuse.