Amid substance abuse threat thrust on open gym
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: November 21, 2022 -

WHILE existence of numerous drug and alcohol rehabilitation and treatment centres across the state indicates growing number of substance abusers among the teenage as well as adult population, it is commendable of the government to establish open gyms in different districts with varied apparatus for physical conditioning as presence of such facilities would definitely inspire the citizens to stay fit.

Since the past few months, the government has been dedicating to the public open gyms and sports infrastructure constructed in different parts of the state including in the outlying districts, thereby demonstrating objective of the establishment to aid the citizens maintain physical fitness.

Though there has been no shortage of privately run gymnasiums at various locations having both traditional and mechanical training equipment, these facilities are mainly utilised by professional athletes, body builders in particular, and to some extent by health conscious female folks or those keen to fight obesity.

As access to these facilities entails monthly subscriptions of varied amount and specific time schedule, ordinary citizens who are equally keen to maintain physical fitness but couldn't afford the gym fee or don't have the time are certain to see installation of the open gyms as a boon.

For health conscious citizens availability of open gyms within residential areas or nearby public places will mean one can use the facilities anytime but for the government it is obvious that the initiative aims to ring out the message that it is doing the needful to neutralise the impact of drug and substance abuse on the society.

Apart from the on-going thrust towards setting up of open gyms in different parts of the state, the recent revival of the Manipur State Olympic Games had underscored that the government is according importance towards promoting sports and converting it into one of the means to keep the youngsters stay away from drugs and other addictive substances.

While number of inmates in drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres makes it crystal clear that Manipur's reputation as the powerhouse of sports in India is making no difference to vulnerable section of the society, frequent reports of various types of psychoactive drugs seized from different parts of the state on a daily basis is a grim reminder that the situation could turn worst in case of lack of intervention by the government.

Therefore as sports is one of the best options left to defeat the devilish intention of the drug dealers to destroy the society, the government's enthusiasm to set up more open gyms testifies efforts to sustain the spirit of sports and physical activities at the grassroots level and help prevent the youngsters from falling prey to drugs and liquor.

Moreover, convenient access to open gyms not only has the potential to encourage active involvement of ordinary citizens in sustaining the sports movement and encouraging the youngsters to take sports as a serious career option but also provide the platform for concerned individuals and idealistic elders to share their views on how to neutralise the persistent threats posed to all sections of the society due to relentless proliferation of drugs and other addictive substances.