Jammu, Mar 28: The Jammu & Kashmir Government on Saturday informed the Legislative Assembly that a bill on drug de-addiction has been finalised and will be introduced during the ongoing budget session.
Responding to supplementary questions from MLAs during Question Hour, Minister for Health & Medical Education Sakina Masood Itoo said they would make efforts to introduce the bill in the current session.
“I assure you that the bill is ready. We will try to introduce it during the ongoing session,” the minister said, according to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
The Minister emphasised that the responsibility of curbing the flow of drugs in Jammu & Kashmir lies with the police, while the Health Department’s role is confined to creating awareness and rehabilitating patients affected by substance abuse.
“The role of the Health & Medical Education Department is not to punish drug peddlers, but to treat, counsel, and rehabilitate patients,” she said.
She requested the Home Department to take stronger action so that Jammu & Kashmir can be saved from the epidemic of drugs.
The Minister further said that the government has taken action whenever complaints were received against drug de-addiction centers run by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
“We have taken action whenever we received complaints. They have to abide by rules,” she added. (KNO)
