To carry forward the observance of Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav, the 75 week long celebrations to commemorate the 75th year of India’s Independence, a one day national webinar was organised at Amar Singh College Srinagar on 31st July 2021 to fulfil its role as socially committed institution of higher education.
During these 75 weeks of celebrations the college has been taking up various facets of the nation’s past, present and future, exploring the diverse dimensions of its history, polity, contributions to various fields, the society, its culture and traditions while celebrating this progressive nation. As the country honour’s its commitment to freedom in every sense, Amar Singh College exhibited its commitment to envision a free and fair society based on equality, harmony, peace, equity and dignity for all.
With a view to contribute towards the progressive future of our youth, the one day national webinar focused on one of the pressing issues of social concern rising drug abuse amongst adolescents and teenagers.
The Constitution of India, under Article 47, also enjoins that the state shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs, which are injurious to health. Disturbingly high and rising levels of illicit drug use remain a problem today that requires efforts of everyone to realise the dream of a drug-free nation.
As the physical, social, and psychological “home away from home” for majority of the youth, educational institutions naturally assume a primary role in substance abuse education, prevention, and early identification by fostering relationships with established health care experts and other organizations to assist them in curbing this growing social menace of drug and substance abuse. With this objective the NSS Units and NCC Wings of Amar Singh College held day long technical sessions regarding the sociological and psychological impact of drug/substance abuse.
The event was formally inaugurated by the worthy principal Professor Bashir Ahmad Rather in which he gave a detailed overview of drugs and drug use, drug abuse, illicit trafficking and drug administration. He also presented an overview of the categories of addictive drugs, the roots of administration and the effects, both long and short term.
The experts for the webinar were Dr. Shabnam Ara, Head Department of Sociology and NSS Programme Officer, and Dr. Ulfat Jan, Head Department of Psychology, Amar Singh College. Dr. Shabnam in her deliberations shared with the participants the sociological dimension of drug/substance abuse with a special focus on the drug problem amongst the youth of Kashmir.
‘Drugs are the new emerging trends in this fast growing developing world. Where knowledge and life values should be something that is inculcated in every mind, drugs are taking their place and making life itself void. Drug abuse is often accompanied by a devastating social impact upon community life. The social impacts of drug use are pervasive and its consequences for families, health, education, crime and employment are so devastating that no nation, no society can afford.’ Dr. Shabnam through her informative session enjoined upon each individual to take responsibility in preventing and controlling such devastating practices that hamper the growth of a nation and damage the basic social fabric of the nation.
In the second technical session, Dr. Ulfat Jan deliberated over the psychological dimension of the issue of drug/substance abuse particularly among our students. In her elaborate presentation, Dr. Ulfat focused on the proper mechanism that needs to be in place educational institutions for dealing with the issues like drug/substance abuse. She stressed on the need for counselling cells within institutions to guide and mentor our youth.
“None of us is as strong as all of us”, whenever we raise a voice for any cause or an issue individually, the sway will be minor but when all our voices join together the influence and impact is bound to be greater, and more successful.