State responds to global call for drug free society
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 26 2012: Responding to the call for a drug free society, Manipur today joined the International community in observing International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, 2012 under theme 'Think Health, Not drugs' all across the state.

At the state level, the observance was held under the aegis of Social Welfare Department, Government of Manipur at Bal Bhawan premises in Khuman Lampak Sports Complex here with Minister of Social Welfare AK Mirabai as Chief Guest, MLA of Moirang A/C M Prithviraj as President and Chairperson of Social Welfare Board RK Noyonsana as Guest of Honour.

Speaking at the occasion, Minister AK Mirabai said that efforts are being made to implement a Manipur State Drug Policy to control the menace of drugs and a Manipur Child Protection Commission to stop child trafficking and help the victims.

She noted that despite enforcement of Juvenile Justice Act, the problem of drugs and child trafficking have come to pose a serious threat to the society.

The Social Welfare Department has rescued the lives of many innocent children who were found to have removed their kidney for sale or forced to work in unhealthy surrounding after they have been taken out from state on false promise of better job opportunities and educational facilities.

So, setting p of a Commission to protect such victims and provide them with aid would become a reality very soon.

Anti-Drug Day observance: Minister of Social Welfare AK Mirabai flagging off an autorickshaw rally

With regard to the problem of drug abuse among the young people, the Minister informed that drafting of the Manipur State Drug Abuse Policy that envisages to prevent drug abuse among the youths as well as to rehabilitate them has completed.

The policy would be implemented after taking the opinions and suggestions of the people.

Stating that she has come to know about the problems being faced by HIV affected widows through media reports, the Minister assured that a scheme for providing financial assistance of Rs 2000 each to 3000 such widows would be launched just after the end of next Budget session.

So far, around 10,000 widows have submitted their applications to get the benefit of the scheme.

As the number of applicants far exceeds the number of beneficiaries to be selected, efforts would be made for allocation of more funds in the budget so that at least 7000 widows could be covered under the scheme.

While efforts are being made to increase the amount of Old Age Pension from Rs 100 to 200 per month, budget allocation for Rs 231 crores has only been earmarked as against the actual requirement of Rs 12,000 crores.

This has created a problem.

Nonetheless, pressures are being made on the authorities concerned for allocating an additional amount of Rs 700 crores, the Minister disclosed.

She also informed that steps have been taken up to ensure the benefits under ICDS scheme is fully enjoyed by the beneficiaries.

The Minister expressed dissatisfaction over the working of some NGOs funded by Ministry of Social Justice and noted that there are some NGOs existing only in name sake without doing any work.

So, the Department would start monitoring the activities of the funded NGOs.

In his Presidential address, MLA of Moirang A/C M Prithviraj pointed out that liquor of every brand is available in Manipur which is supposedly a dry state.

So, as complete prohibition would be impossible, it would be better to turn attention to giving proper advice on moderation.

THe MLA also observed that taking medicines without consulting doctors even if one is seek is akin to drug abuse.

Chairperson of Manipur State Social Welfare Board RK Noyonsana was Guest of Honour of the function during which Commissioner of Social Welfare Letkhogin Haokip delivered the key note address highlighting the relevance of observing International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Earlier, Minister AK Mirabai flagged off an Autorickshaw rally to mark the occasion.

Narcotic Control Bureau, Police, Customs, Medical & Educational Institutions and NGOs also joined hands with Assam Rifles on the occasion of International Day against Drug abuse and Illicit Trafficking to raise awareness on the key issue of drug abuse in the state of Manipur.

HQ 26 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of IGAR(S) organised a seminar under the theme "Think Health - Not Drugs" at its Sangai Auditorium to mark the event.

The aim of organsing the seminar was to impress upon the youth the extremely detrimental effect that prolonged usage of substance has on the physical and mental well-being.

The seminar was presided over by Major General U K Gurung, YSM, IGAR(S), who in his keynote address, observed that Assam Rifles in collaboration with fellow anti-drug warriors' remains committed to the well being of the people of the Manipur and through this effort hope to see a better drug free society.

Prof Ch Priyoranjan of Manipur University; Prof (Dr) AK Bhogen of Department of Community Medicine, RIMS; Special Public Prosecutor of NCB Advocate Supriya Devi, Editor of Hueiyen Lanpao (English daily) Satyajit Usham and Project Manager of SASO Roshan Moirangthem were among the speakers who deliberated on different topics during the seminar, which was attended by many academicians, educationists, medical students, representatives of various NGOs and students from different schools of Chandel district.

The seminar also highlighted the role of Assam Rifles in curbing drug menace in Manipur.

In their endevour, Assam Rifles and NCB have reportedly confiscated and destroyed 2338 kgs of contraband drugs.

As part of the observance function, a panel discussion was also conducted where the youth came out freely to interact with intelligentsia such as Prof Amar Yumnam of Manipur University, Prof Ch Priyoranjan, Dr AK Brojen and Comdt (Retd) RS Jassal.

At the Multipurpose hall of Senapati district, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed under the aegis of Senapati district police.

Speaking at the occasion, SP of Senapati Puspanjalli called for concerted efforts towards achieving the goal of a society free of drug abuse and observed that drug abuse in a society not only ruins the life of an individual, a family but it also ruins the image of the society beyond measures.

Drug abuse is also associated with a lot of petty crimes and violence within the family and outside.

Moreover, women face greater problems from drug abuse and the consequences include domestic violence and infection with HIV/AIDS as well as financial burden, she added. Social organisations like All Manipur Anti-Drug Association (AMADA) and Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA), which have been relentlessly working for a drug free society, also observed the day befittingly.

AMADA presented its annual 'Athouba Award' to drug and HIV/AIDS activist RK Nolinikanta in appreciation of his dedication service to the people during the function held at Manipur Press Club with Director of Social Welfare Dr L Surchandra as Chief Guest, President of AMADA Head office M Padmamani Leima as Functional President and Superintendent of NCB Regional Unit, Imphal RK Ibungosana and Anawari Noorjahan of All Manipur Muslim Pangal Women's Organisation as Guests of Honour.

On the other hand, after a series of street corner meetings, poster campiagn, leaflet campaign, blood donation camp organised since June 23, CADA culminated its observance of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking along with a function at its headoffice today.

The function was attended by Ex-Pradhan of Lairenkabi Kadangband Gram Panchayat Khaidem (O) Pashot Devi as Chief Guest and President of CADA Arambam Rabindra as Functional President.

All those who spoke at the function emphasised on the need for proactive role on the part of the higher police officials of the State Government towards controlling the problem of drugs.

At Jiribam, the day was observed under the auspices of ICDS Project, Jiribam at the office of Jiri Ima Meira Paibi Apunba Lup (JIMPAL) located at Babupara.

Secretary of Panchayat Parishad, Jiribam Th Ibomcha Singh; CDPO of ICDS Project Anima Roy and President of JIMPAL attended the observance function as Chief Guest, President and Guest of Honour respectively.

At Chandel, District Social Welfare Officer and his staffs observed International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the conference hall of REACH-M, Nungourok.

At the occasion, CMO Chandel N Nabakishore, Advocate N Modhu and former District AIDS Officer, Chandel Dr Ksh Issac spoke as resource persons.

Life Challenges International also observed International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking along with a students' rally at Kakching.

NYK Thoubal also took out a similar rally from New Public Higher Secondary to spread the message of harmful event of drugs in the society to mark International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Lecture sessions, display and distribution of banners/posters to create awareness marked the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking observance by 69 Bn CRPF stationed at Mantripukhri today.

Speaking on the occasion, Second-in-Command, Commandant (AOD) Helal Firoz exhorted the unit personnel and the public to relentlessly campaign for creating awareness on the menace of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

All the unit personnel also took a solemn pledge to take care of health and to prevent the society from such menace.

The CMO of the unit also educated the unit personnel about ill effects of the cause.