Womenfolk combat social ills at Lamka
Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite

Lamka, October 08 2013 : In a novel technique of social policing, several village level women groups in Churachandpur district have since the last part of June voluntarily assumed the task of cleansing their neighbourhood, successfully repelling many in-bound abusive substances and intoxicants from their homes besides reducing the routinely evening-brawls.

Armed with sticks and clubs, the women volunteers took turn to maintain vigil along the streets, those on duty sporting a very prominent badge on their front.

Some of the groups began their duty as early as 3 in the morning and continued it till 10 or 11 at night depending on the situation.

Upon inquiry a woman on duty at Bijang claimed that most abusive drug users slept very little, so when they first began maintaining vigil the abusers looking for the substances often preceded them forcing them to be on sentry well before daylight.

It was the concept of Bijang Women's Welfare Association that has drawn the admiration and inspiration of others.

Once considered a drug hub, Bijang was a notorious den for abusers � even for girls and starters.

The village womenfolk began acting on the constantly unpleasant sight witnessed at the village sometime in the later part of June 2013 .

'Initially we warned the peddlers and thrashed those caught red handed.

We then threatened them of social sanctions and helped those families dependent of the shadowy trade.

Women folk of the village donated whatever we can in the form of rice, cash or other commodities and help them search for an alternative means of livelihood,' said Vete Gangte, the secretary of BWWA.

Soon after assuming vigil, the village women had even organised a torch rally, calling on the drug dealers to shun their trade or leave their village and vowed to monitor the conduct of their fellow villagers.

Appreciating the transformations witnessed at Bijang, its adjoining locality of Hmar Veng, Tuibuong and others adopted the technique.

They started seizing drugs, malts, and other intoxicating materials from their locality, instructed the peddlers to shun their trade and began burning their haul before the local media.

The district administration has during the Independence Day celebration recognised the efforts taken up by the women groups by awarding them Special Awards of appreciation.

The number of women welfare associations multiplied ever since.

Among the latest entrant were Thingkangphai, D Phailen, Headquarters Veng etc.

Thingkangphai being a locality located between the township of Lamka and Khuga Dam, a local favourite hang-out spot in the district, they have often ended up impounding a huge cache of abuse related materials from people travelling through the village.

Concurrently, the women folk at New Lamka area have resorted to holding mass prayer in their Churches.

They have till date conducted about three such prayer meetings, also with the same intention of cleansing the society of abuse and intoxication.

The Impact.

Chairperson of Tuibuong Women's Welfare Association, L Hoinu Mate said the very fact that there are no more dealers of any abusive and intoxicating materials in the village alone is a huge achievement.

Earlier alcohol and drugs were available in plenty as such many have fallen for them.

Following the intervention by women folks, faces of the drunkards and drug abusers were much brighter and healthier.

Teenagers who had tested the bad things at will before now have no easy access as such it prevented them from going astray.

Men who seldom had shared meal time with the family now got to spend quality time with their family.

The public is at peace even at night as the sight and fear of a drunken brawl was not there any more.

Vete Gangte added, 'we are contented to see many of the youths who were once under the grip of drugs taking active parts in Church related activities and participating in Church Choirs.

Hence, we have no reason to regret.'She said as many as 27 people drawn from the Churches located in the village had since June till date continue to back their initiatives with unceasing prayers.

At D Phailen, a woman on duty has similar sentiments to share.

Her village she said is the brewing site for local malt but after the village women folk even went to the extent of disposing the loads of those who carry malt leftovers for pigs, it is now a much-much better place to live in.

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