Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 26:
A public meeting held today at Hatta Kangjeibung on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking has resolved to urge the State Government for inclusion of the harmful effects and negative points of drug abuse in educational curriculum.
The meeting organised by the AMADA further resolved to launch an awareness campaign in schools and in different parts of the State against drug abuse and substance abuse.
Organising public meetings to reduce the practice of brewing liquor for commercial purpose, to appeal to the State Government to stop allowing free sale of liquor and drugs by charging taxes and to launch intense agitation in case the State Government fails to reciprocate positively were some other resolutions adopted during the meeting.
Today's public meeting was held after a mass cycle rally covering six districts of the State were taken out by anti-drug campaigners under the aegis of AMADA since June 21 for which the rally was flagged off from Kangla.
On their arrival at Hatta Kangjeibung, the anti-drug campaigners were accorded a warm reception and a huge quantity of drugs and liquor were disposed off by consigning them to flames before the meeting commenced today.
Khaidem Sumati (60), one of the participants of the cycle rally, said that she joined the rally with conviction as she is determined to prevent other women meeting her fate of losing her husband to drugs.
Bobo, an AMADA activist claimed that the warm reception accorded to the rallyists at different parts of the State was an encouraging sign of people's crucial support to its anti-drug campaign.
In conjunction with the mass cycle rally, musical concerts christened Opium War were held at two places besides honouring 18 individuals with the Annual Excellence Award Marvel/Athouba 2007 for their dedication to the cause of ameliorating the woes of drug problems.
The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is being every year all over the world since 1988.From 2007 to 2009, the Day will be observed under the theme "Do Drugs Control Your Life; Your Life, Your Community No Place for Drugs" as decided by the UNODC, added the AMADA activists.
Today's public meeting was graced by MLA O Joy and AMADA president L Tomba as chief guest and president respectively.