Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 17: In a bid to combat the rising issue of substance abuse among children and adolescents in Srinagar, the South Asia Center for Peace and People’s Empowerment (SACPPE) launched a series of road shows and sound truck campaigns from Lal Chowk on Saturday.
The awareness initiative was flagged off by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Central Kashmir Range, Pande Rajiv Omparkash, in the presence of SP East Srinagar Mubashir Bukhari, SHO Maisuma Imtiyaz Ahmad, and SHO Kothibagh Manzoor Ahmad.
During his address, DIG Pande warned the youth about the dangers of drug abuse, describing it as a “treacherous trap.”
He highlighted the J&K Police’s ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking and announced a new partnership between the police’s drug de-addiction center and SACPPE.
According to him, this collaboration will focus on prevention, education, and rehabilitation, with an emphasis on community involvement.
Supported by UNICEF India, the SACPPE’s “Dekh Bal” initiative aims to raise awareness and mobilize collective action through sound truck campaigns and road shows.
These mobile awareness drives, starting from Lal Chowk’s iconic Clock Tower, will engage the public with banners, interactive sessions, and educational materials to foster dialogue on substance abuse prevention.
Umar Bhat, convener of the Dekh Bal initiative and President of SACPPE, stressed that these campaigns mark the beginning of intensified efforts to protect children and secure the region’s future.
As part of the campaigns, Bhat said that sound trucks broadcasting messages in Urdu and Kashmiri will navigate Srinagar’s streets, delivering crucial information on the risks of substance abuse and available support resources.
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