Activists unite to raise awareness; a large number of children found to be using drugs in South Delhi neighbourhoods
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – In the heart of South Delhi’s Jamia Nagar, the rising menace of drug addiction is pushing communities to take matters into their own hands. As the new generation falls prey to drug abuse, particularly in densely populated areas like Shaheen Bagh and Batla House, a group of Muslim women have joined hands to fight the growing menace.
With increasing reports of children as young as 10 years old getting caught up in drug abuse, the issue is no longer one that can be ignored. Each week, the local police apprehend both drug suppliers and users, often finding youngsters in their grasp. The problem has become so widespread that students and children as young as six have been found involved, according to social worker Shaista Khan.
“Today, small children are taking drugs, and their parents don’t even know,” Shaista said. “The way we spot children with drugs every day is shocking. These are 10 to 12-year-olds who should be focused on their studies, but they are falling into addiction instead.”
The situation has become so dire that women from the Okhla area, particularly Shaheen Bagh and Zakir Nagar, have launched a grassroots campaign to raise awareness and combat drug addiction. Recently, a meeting titled “Aao Okhla ko Sawaren, Mahila Shaktikaran Baithak” was organised by the Amrit Foundation and Hum Hindustani Trust in Abul Fazal Enclave. Muslim women gathered to discuss the growing threat of drugs and to plan their campaign against it.
“We are seeing the effects of this poison all around us,” said Shahana Yasmeen, coordinator of the Amrit Foundation. “If we do not stand up against it now, even our own homes would be impacted. Children are falling into this trap every day, and the community cannot afford to stay silent.”
A recent report from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has highlighted the severity of the drug crisis across South and West Delhi. Areas such as Chhatarpur, Taimur Nagar, RK Puram, Sangam Vihar, Khirki Extension, and even upscale neighbourhoods like Malviya Nagar and Mahipalpur have seen a sharp rise in drug abuse, with the youth most affected. However, the epicentre of this battle remains Shaheen Bagh, where a large international drug gang was recently busted.
Women like Shaista Khan are on the frontlines of this struggle. Alongside Delhi Police and the Samaj Sudhar Trust, she works tirelessly to help children away from addiction. “Not only boys, but even girls are using drugs now. They are using new methods, mixing drugs with cloth in a punctured tube and sniffing it,” she said. “In Okhla alone, 8 to 10 children are caught with drugs every week.”
The concern amongst parents is growing, yet local leadership and authorities have remained silent. Mohammad Nizam, president of Hum Hindustani Sansthan, expressed his frustration at the lack of action. “What we are seeing is deeply painful. Okhla is becoming one of the dirtiest areas in Delhi, and the rising trend of drug addiction is only making it worse,” he said. “Children as young as 8, 10, and 15 are falling into this dangerous lifestyle, and our leaders are doing nothing about it.”
The women leading this campaign refuse to wait for action from the government or political leaders. “We have started a campaign to free our community from drugs,” Shahana Yasmeen declared. “We will come out on the streets and raise our voices. We have to make our society healthy again.”
With dozens of women from Okhla already involved, the movement is gaining momentum. As mothers and activists take to the streets to combat drug abuse, they are showing the strength and resilience of their community in the face of a growing epidemic.
For now, the future of Delhi’s children may depend on this grassroots effort to end the cycle of addiction and restore hope for the next generation.
