Social Welfare director calls for NGO-Govt rapport
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 27 2022: Maintaining that NGOs are supposed to work in coordination with the government but not as social activists, Social Welfare director Ng Uttam has urged NGOs to work with the government in order to successfully root out the menace of drug issue from the state.

Social Awareness Service Organisation (SASO) organised a one-day Global Day of Action as part of its 'Support, Don't Punish' campaign at IMA hall, Lamphelpat here on Monday.

Speaking on the topic of 'Essence of Manipur State Drug Policy on Psychoactive Substance 2019 and its implementation', Uttam, who attended the event as chief guest, observed that number of people, who understand the drug issue and standing up to fight the drug menace, is increasing in the state.

Apart from the government, different CSOs, NGOs and local club are participating in the government's campaign against drugs.

However, the public often forget or are unaware of the Manipur State Drug Policy on Psychoactive Substance 2019.The government is implementing the policy with commitment and sincerity while focusing on a three-prong strategy - supply reduction, demand reduction and harm reduction.

The war on drugs campaign is part of the supply reduction strategy while rehabilitation centres are part of the demand and harm reduction strategies.

A state run rehabilitation centre has also started functioning recently.

Besides, the government is taking up different types of awareness programmes, especially at educational institutions, he said.

The director also pointed out that once the rehabilitation centres no longer have inmates or clients seeking assistance, one can safely assume that the issue of drug abuse is almost over.

He called upon the public to participate and become part of the policy instead of pointing out faults without doing anything.

During the event, HRNM president Hijam Dinesh spoke on 'Changing scenario and present response towards drugs use in Manipur'; MU Anthropology department's professor MC Arun spoke on 'Manipur State Drug Policy and Psychoactive Substance 2019 and its relevance with the present drug response mechanism'; SLCA director Dr A Jayantakumar spoke on 'Roles of de-addiction/rehabilitation centres in Manipur in the present trend'; and MACS joint director (TI) Abhiram Mongjam spoke on 'Improvisation of harm reduction services in Manipur' .

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