LG Manoj Sinha Reviews Comprehensive Rehabilitation Framework for Drug Abuse Victims, Calls for Community-Driven Reintegration
Srinagar, July 14: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the proposed Rehabilitation and Socio-Economic Reintegration Scheme for Drug Abuse Victims, 2026, aimed at establishing a comprehensive and convergence-based framework for the rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals recovering from substance use disorders across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Principal Secretary, Home Department, Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department Sarmad Hafeez, and other senior officers.
During the meeting, Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Sarmad Hafeez, presented the salient features of the proposed scheme, which envisages a structured three-year rehabilitation cycle designed to ensure sustained recovery and social inclusion of drug abuse victims.
According to the presentation, Phase I will focus on treatment and stabilisation through medical care, counselling, and preparation of Individual Rehabilitation Plans (IRPs). Phase II will facilitate reintegration through education, skill development, employment opportunities, and family support, while Phase III will provide sustained monitoring, relapse prevention, community support, and long-term social reintegration through coordinated interventions by multiple departments.
The meeting was informed that a dedicated Rehabilitation Monitoring Portal (RMP) is being developed to enable digital case management, monitoring of rehabilitation plans, inter-departmental coordination, and real-time tracking of rehabilitation outcomes while maintaining the confidentiality of beneficiaries.
Officials said the scheme has been prepared by a Task Force constituted under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary, Home Department, following the directions of the Chief Secretary. The Social Welfare Department has been designated as the nodal department, with representatives from key stakeholder departments contributing to the formulation of the comprehensive rehabilitation framework.
Appreciating the Task Force for its collaborative approach, the Lieutenant Governor stressed the need for a coordinated, humane, and outcome-oriented rehabilitation system that ensures sustained recovery, social inclusion, and livelihood opportunities for individuals affected by drug abuse.
He emphasised that community participation, family support, skill development, and continuous monitoring should remain the foundation of the rehabilitation process. He also directed all concerned departments to ensure effective inter-departmental coordination for the successful implementation of the scheme.
Highlighting the role of technology in governance, the Lieutenant Governor called for leveraging digital platforms to ensure transparent monitoring and evidence-based decision-making throughout the rehabilitation process.
He directed that the pilot implementation of the scheme be launched in two of the most affected districts—one each from the Kashmir and Jammu divisions—to evaluate its effectiveness before extending it across the Union Territory.
"The pilot implementation should be closely monitored so that the lessons learnt can be incorporated before scaling up the scheme across the Union Territory," the Lieutenant Governor said.
He further instructed the administration to identify dedicated officers to lead rehabilitation initiatives and involve motivated women volunteers and community groups after providing them with appropriate training for counselling and rehabilitation services.
Emphasising the importance of public participation, the Lieutenant Governor said community involvement is critical for the successful reintegration of victims into the mainstream. He also directed that volunteers, interested government employees, and rehabilitation personnel be provided with timely training and capacity-building programmes to strengthen the delivery of rehabilitation services. ANB
