The District Social and Tribal Welfare Department, Kargil, organized an orientation-cum-training program for master volunteers as part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) on October 18 at Auditorium Hall, Kargil.

The program aimed to equip master volunteers with essential knowledge and skills to combat substance abuse and promote drug demand reduction in the district.
Resource persons from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, including Risha Nusrat (Senior Program Officer), Kritika (State Coordinator, PMU), and Pragjyotika (State Coordinator, PMU), delivered comprehensive presentations. Their PowerPoint slides highlighted the extent and patterns of substance abuse in India, including alcohol, opioids, and cannabis.

The presentations covered consumption trends, causes and consequences of substance abuse, the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction, and initiatives such as skill development, capacity-building, community involvement, quality standards, survey studies, and treatment facilities. The session also addressed the roles and mechanisms of CPLI (Community Peer Led Intervention) and ODIC (Outreach and Drop-in Centers), early drug prevention strategies for adolescents, and the cycle of addiction.

The interactive training session fostered vibrant discussions between students, master volunteers, and resource persons, focusing on the challenges of de-addiction in the district. The resource persons provided valuable insights and practical solutions to tackle these issues.

They also urged the public, especially those battling drug abuse, to reach out for confidential counseling via the toll-free number 14446.

Another session was conducted at Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Kargil.

The orientation-cum-training program was attended by Assistant Commissioner Revenue/District Social & Tribal Welfare Officer, Kargil, Abdul Majid Tantary; the Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee, Kargil; principals from various schools; master volunteers; staff of Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Kargil; students from Suru Valley Public School and Boys Higher Secondary School; and officials from the Social Welfare Department, Kargil.

The District Social and Tribal Welfare Department, Kargil, reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and ensuring a drug-free society.