Jammu, Feb 16: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today underscored the need for timely and effective relief to disaster-affected families while chairing the 4th meeting of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction (DMRR&R).

Emphasizing the vulnerability of disaster-hit communities in Jammu & Kashmir, the Chief Secretary observed that families impacted by natural calamities often have no recourse except the support extended by the government. He stressed that relief assistance must reach the affected households without any delay and directed officers to always ensure prompt disbursement of assistance to the affected populations.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Home; Special Director General, Coordination; Special Secretary, Finance; senior representatives from concerned departments; and officers of DMRR&R.

Taking serious note of pending relief claims, the Chief Secretary unequivocally directed the immediate clearance of outstanding amounts in favour of Deputy Commissioners of districts affected by last year’s flash floods. He sought a detailed compliance report to ensure that funds had been released strictly as per the assessed requirements of each district.

Highlighting the unpredictable nature of disasters, the Chief Secretary called for establishing a robust and clearly defined mechanism to respond to such emergencies. He directed the departments to strengthen preparedness measures, undertake mitigation efforts in advance, and institutionalize a standardized framework delineating roles and responsibilities of officers to ensure swift, coordinated, and effective action on the ground.

Earlier, Principal Secretary, Home, Chandraker Bharti, briefed the Committee on the Action Taken Reports (ATRs) following previous SEC meetings. He informed that the process for constituting Urban Disaster Management Authorities for both Jammu and Srinagar is currently underway. He further disclosed that engagement of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a technical partner for Disaster Risk Management in J&K is in progress to facilitate formulation of a comprehensive and forward-looking disaster mitigation plan for the Union Territory.

The Principal Secretary also provided details regarding the release of approximately ₹96 crore to districts under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) in the wake of recent disasters. He highlighted various capacity-building initiatives undertaken by the department to enhance preparedness and response capabilities across districts.

He further apprised the Committee about the Post Disaster Needs Assessments (PDNA) carried out in the Union Territory with the support of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in accordance with guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The assessments aim to comprehensively evaluate losses and damages and formulate a structured reconstruction and recovery strategy.

To strengthen disaster response at the divisional and district levels and operationalize the Incident Response System (IRS) at the grassroots, the Committee approved a standardized IRS notification for both divisions and districts. This step is expected to ensure a coordinated, coherent, and prompt response during emergencies.

The meeting also deliberated on further strengthening the District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs). It was informed that the Finance Department will provide necessary funds for hiring consultants to enhance the technical and institutional capacity of DDMAs across the Union Territory.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and livelihoods, the Chief Secretary directed the departments to work for building a resilient and responsive disaster management framework for Jammu & Kashmir for the times to come.

Srinagar, Feb 16: The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Indian Army’s White Knight Corps Lt Gen P K Mishra Monday conducted a visit to the Kishtwar region of Jammu and Kashmir to assess the counter terrorism grid and review the readiness of forces deployed on the ground.

In a post on X, Indian Army’s White Knight Corps said: “The GOC White Knight Corps, accompanied by GOC CIF (Delta), visited the general area of Kishtwar, J&K, to review the counter terrorism grid and assess the operational preparedness of deployed units.

He was briefed on the prevailing security situation and measures to further strengthen the security framework and inter-agency synergy.

CIF Delta, Where vigilance meets valour, troops in hinterland stand ready, always ahead of the threat”.

Jammu, Feb 16: The Jammu and Kashmir government will conduct a survey on drug abuse in 10 districts of the Union territory as it has launched a community rehabilitation programme, Circle of Care, to support de-addiction counsellors in every village, officials said on Monday.

Jammu and Kashmir has the highest number of functional addiction treatment facilities (ATFs) in the country, with these facilities having provided around 1.5 lakh patient consultations so far.

“A survey will soon be launched in 10 districts of the Union territory to study substance use disorders in depth. The survey will be part of a national exercise on substance use disorder,” Minister for Health Sakina Itoo said.

She further said that the government has launched the Circle of Care to support de-addiction counsellors in every village. “About 600 counsellors from the health, education and other departments have been trained under the initiative,” she said.

The government is further strengthening the programme to make primary care the first line of treatment for addiction-related disorders, with plans to increase inpatient ATFs and develop long-term rehabilitation facilities in one region of Jammu and Kashmir, she said.

On the de-addiction front, the minister said that Jammu and Kashmir has the highest number of functional addiction treatment facilities in the country. “In the public health sector, 21 addiction treatment facilities (ATFs) are operational, with at least one facility in each district. These ATFs have provided around 1.5 lakh patient consultations so far,” she added.

She said that drug de-addiction rules are currently being finalised and are expected to be completed soon. “Once implemented, these rules are anticipated to significantly enhance efforts to combat the drug menace across Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.

The minister said that a bill against the drug menace will also be brought in the current session to tackle this social menace in J&K.

To ensure food safety, she said the government undertook major initiatives through stronger enforcement and enhanced sampling during 2025–26. “Inspections rose by 25 per cent, with 19,115 inspections conducted against a target of 7,080, achieving 100 per cent of the highest food inspection target under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India,” she added.

The minister said that 12 special enforcement drives were carried out, focusing on high-risk food items such as meat, paneer, ghee, sweets and milk products. “Under mobile food safety operations, 57 tonnes of unsafe food products worth Rs 99.40 lakh were seized and destroyed,” she said.

She added that during the period, authorities launched 1,007 prosecutions, including 63 criminal and 944 civil cases, with penalties amounting to Rs 1.72 crore.

“Forty ‘stop-use’ notices were issued. As many as 66 licence and registration camps were organised, benefiting 7,516 stakeholders, while 3,463 awareness and training camps were conducted through mobile food testing vans at the grassroots level,” she said.