In loving memory of Dr. Priya Ranjan: A mentor who treated me like family

JAMMU: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a high-level meeting of senior officers to deliberate upon and give shape to a robust mechanism for rehabilitation and reintegration of drug abuse victims across the districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Home; Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD); Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department; Commissioner Secretary, School Education Department; Secretary, Health & Medical Education (H&ME); Secretary, Skill Development Department (SDD) and Labour & Employment (L&E); Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD); Director General, Budget; Director, Information; Managing Director, JKRLM; Director Colleges and other concerned officers.

While reviewing the framework, the Chief Secretary stressed the need for systematic tracking of every registered drug abuse victim who comes forward for treatment to ensure sustained handholding, rehabilitation and social reintegration. He emphasized that such individuals should be monitored for several years post-treatment and provided opportunities in livelihood generation, skill development, self-employment or education based on individual rehabilitation needs.

Highlighting the importance of institutional support, the Chief Secretary called for dovetailing resources and manpower of multiple departments to ensure comprehensive support to individuals at every stage of recovery. He observed that while family and societal support remains crucial, long-term reintegration into mainstream society largely depends on strong institutional mechanisms.

The Chief Secretary noted that motivating victims to undergo treatment is only the first step and must be complemented by regular follow-up, counselling and livelihood support to prevent relapse. He underscored the need for an end-to-end mechanism covering awareness generation through IEC campaigns, treatment, counselling, rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation engagement of affected youth.

To ensure accountability and effectiveness, he directed the creation of a district-level monitoring framework under senior officers, supported by dedicated teams to identify gaps and ensure lifetime rehabilitation outcomes. He further instructed development of an integrated online platform with clearly defined departmental roles and unique identification for each beneficiary to enable real-time tracking and case management.

During the meeting, Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Sarmad Hafeez, made a detailed presentation outlining the proposed inter-departmental coordination mechanism and post-rehabilitation framework. He informed that under the ongoing Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, a dedicated Task Force has been constituted under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary, Home Department, with the mandate to plan, coordinate and monitor rehabilitation and reintegration interventions across departments.

The meeting was informed that the Task Force will focus on multi-departmental coordination, standardized screening and referral mechanisms, availability of trained psychiatrists in hospitals, strengthening law enforcement for supply reduction and enhancement of rehabilitation processes.

It was further highlighted that the rehabilitation framework envisages standardized rehabilitation protocols and counselling units across J&K. The importance of integrating skill development programmes, livelihood support, start-up credit linkages, self-employment assistance and private sector partnerships was also emphasized to ensure sustainable recovery of rehabilitated individuals.

The meeting also underscored the need for school-based preventive programmes, community engagement initiatives, post-care monitoring systems and strengthening of infrastructure and capacity building. The roles and responsibilities of departments including School Education, Higher Education, Rural Development, Skill Development, Labour & Employment, Health, Home and Social Welfare were clearly delineated to achieve the long-term objective of a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment, the Chief Secretary stressed that addressing drug abuse requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to safeguard the future of youth and build a healthier society.

Your voice can reach the world: At JK Monitor, we firmly believe that every well-researched idea has the power to inspire change beyond geographical boundaries. We are delighted to share an encouraging message from one of our esteemed contributors, Dr. Rakesh Verma (J&K Forest Services). “His article, ‘When Trees Become Rights-Bearing Citizens: A Lesson from Canada for India’s Ecological Future,’ published on JK Monitor, received appreciation from La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus, the French non-profit organisation that founded and promotes the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights.”.  Read the message here
A Profound Loss: JK Monitor Mourns the Passing of Founding Chairman Dr. Priya Ranjan

We at JK Monitor are profoundly saddened by the sudden demise of our Founding Chairman, Dr. Priya Ranjan.IN LOVING MEMORY Dr Priya Ranjan

A brilliant mind who studied at Netarhat Residential School and graduated in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur before earning his PhD from the University of Maryland, Dr. Ranjan chose to return to India and dedicate his life to teaching, research and social good.

His pioneering work in networked systems, AI, robotics and biomedical applications—especially computer-vision tools for early detection of cancer and heart disease—reflected his deep belief that advanced technology must serve humanity.

For more than 15 years at JK Monitor, he remained a loyal friend, mentor and collaborator, marked by rare humility, intellectual integrity and quiet generosity. His passing leaves a void that cannot be filled. Priya, you will be deeply missed. Your life continues to remind us that knowledge finds its highest purpose in the service of others.

— Team JK Monitor

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