JKCSF Raises Alarm Over Rising Menace of Substandard Food, Adulterated Drugs, and Polluted Water in J&K

The Jammu & Kashmir Civil Society Forum (JKCSF), under the leadership of Abdul Qayoom Wani, has raised an urgent alarm over the growing menace of substandard food items, adulterated drugs, and polluted water resources in the region.

The forum is deeply concerned about the devastating impact these practices are having on public health, especially among economically vulnerable populations and future generations.

Despite the presence of regulatory bodies such as the Food Safety Departments, municipal authorities, and law enforcement agencies, the situation remains dire. These institutions have been accused of inaction, turning a blind eye to the thriving mafia responsible for the sale of unsafe food products, counterfeit medicines, and the contamination of vital resources. According to the JKCSF, this negligence has resulted in unchecked practices that continue to endanger public health.

While the forum acknowledges the police's efforts in combating the drug menace, it urges the government to adopt similar stringent measures against those involved in the sale of adulterated food and spurious drugs. "We are witnessing a public health crisis that is only growing worse with time," said Qayoom Wani, chairperson of the JKCSF. "It is high time the government takes concrete action to stop this organized mafia and hold those responsible accountable."

In its call for immediate government action, JKCSF has specifically demanded that law enforcement agencies be empowered to crack down on these illegal activities. Furthermore, it has urged the Chief Minister to expose and punish those in the bureaucracy and political circles who are believed to be patronizing these criminal activities.

The forum also highlighted the devastation caused by the pollution of agricultural land, air, and water resources, which exacerbates the overall crisis. "Our fertile land is being destroyed, our water is being contaminated, and our air is no longer safe to breathe," Wani stated, emphasizing that the impact of such environmental degradation is felt most by the marginalized sections of society.

In light of this growing threat, the JKCSF has called on religious scholars, educators, civil society activists, and journalists to raise their voices in unison to raise public awareness and demand accountability from both the government and the perpetrators of these harmful practices.

To further support its cause, the forum has announced plans to release a white paper soon, detailing the alarming issues at hand and advocating for urgent, comprehensive measures to protect public health and secure a safer future for the people of Jammu & Kashmir. The white paper will outline the dangers posed by substandard food, adulterated drugs, and environmental pollution, and call for a concerted effort from all sectors of society to address these challenges.

"The time to act is now," Wani emphasized. "If we fail to take swift action, we risk poisoning not just our present, but the future of generations to come."