Apart from a health crisis, drug abuse is a social and economic challenge that eats away at the fabric of communities. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s emphasis on community participation as the cornerstone of rehabilitation is a welcome and much-needed shift in perspective. The proposed Rehabilitation and Socio-Economic Reintegration Scheme, with its structured three-year cycle of treatment, livelihood activation, and sustained monitoring, represents a comprehensive and humane approach to a problem that has long been treated with reactive measures rather than sustainable solutions. The scheme’s phased structure – from medical treatment and counselling to skill development, employment, and long-term social inclusion – recognises that recovery is not a single event but a journey. The inclusion of Individual Rehabilitation Plans, a dedicated Rehabilitation Monitoring Portal for transparent case management, and the involvement of trained women volunteers and motivated government employees reflects an understanding that rehabilitation requires coordinated, multi-departmental intervention. What makes this initiative particularly commendable is its focus on pilot implementation in the two most affected districts – one from each division – before scaling up. This approach allows for real-time learning, course correction, and evidence-based decision-making, ensuring that the scheme is not merely a policy document but a living, evolving framework that adapts to ground realities. The emphasis on community participation is especially significant. Drug abuse victims often face stigma and isolation, making reintegration into society one of the most difficult phases of recovery. By involving volunteers, community members, and trained women’s groups in counselling and rehabilitation efforts, the scheme seeks to break down these barriers and create an environment of acceptance and support. It also recognises that the family and community are not just beneficiaries but active partners in the healing process. The government must ensure that the scheme is implemented with sincerity and vigour, that inter-departmental coordination remains seamless, and that the Rehabilitation Monitoring Portal becomes a tool for genuine accountability rather than a bureaucratic formality. The fight against drug abuse cannot be won by enforcement alone; it requires compassion, commitment, and collective effort. The groundwork has been laid. Now it is up to the administration, communities, and citizens to walk this path together.
The autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly has begun, as it often does, with uproar. Placards were raised, slogans were shouted, and the well of the House was stormed....
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