SRINAGAR: As part of the nationwide Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, the NSS Unit of the College of Temperate Sericulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Mirgund, organised an awareness programme to sensitise students about the harmful effects of drug abuse and promote a healthy, drug-free society.
The programme brought together faculty members, non-teaching staff and students, with speakers emphasising the need for collective action to curb substance abuse, particularly among young people.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Dr. Aabid Khaliq Tantray, NSS Programme Officer, highlighted the physical, psychological, social and economic consequences of drug addiction. Stressing the role of educational institutions, families, and society in prevention, he urged students to make informed life choices and to become ambassadors for the “Say No to Drugs” campaign.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Iqrah Akbar, Assistant Professor, underscored the importance of mental well-being, healthy lifestyle choices and positive peer influence in protecting youth from substance abuse. She encouraged students to remain focused on their academic and personal goals while contributing to a drug-free society.
Students also shared their perspectives on the growing menace of drug abuse, stressing the importance of awareness, self-discipline and community participation in tackling the issue.
The programme concluded with participants taking a collective pledge to support the vision of a Drug-Free India and actively contribute to the objectives of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan through awareness, responsibility and active citizenship.