Source: Hueiyen News Service
Moreh/Jiribam, December 21, 2009:
The meetei Council Moreh (MCM) yesterday organised various activities to observe "Realisation Day Against Drugs" at Moreh, the border trade centre of Manipur.
People of different communities living in and around the town took part in the observance.
As part of the Day, a marathon race was held at 7 am under the aegis of the MCM.
A number of young boys and girls and housewives took part in the marathon race.
A mass rally against drugs and alchohol was held at 11 am at the town.
Over a thousand men, women and children of various communities participated in the mass rally.
The rally started from the office of MCM, reached Moreh Gate No.1 on NH-39, passed through Dalpati road and reached Tamil Mandir from where came on Sunrise road, Premnagar then Meetei Leikai road, parking areas near Gate No.2, then through Nepali Basti, Muslim Leikai and crossed Chavangphai bridge, then Kanan Veng to Hospital (Irabot) road, police check post and finally converged back at the office of the MCM.A public meeting was held there.
Prior to the public meeting, King Meidingu Leishemba Sanajaoba, who also took part in the meeting, was escorted by a band, president and office-bearers of MCM and women in traditional dress carrying Athelpot on their heads upto the venue of the meeting.
King Leishemba Sanajaoba was the chief guest, vice president of Meetei Muslim Council, Moreh, Md Hussein, secretary of Tamil Sangam, S Ravichandra, president of Muslim Nagar Women's Development Association, Jubeda Begum and president of Kha Nongpok Apunba Nupi Lup, W Keinahanbi were the guests of honour at the meeting which was presided over by president of MCM, L Imobi.
"The realisation day Against Drugs" (Mayai Kaba Nishagi Mayokta Mitkap Thokpa Numit) was also observed under the aegis of Observation Committee of the same objective at the town hall of Jiribam yesterday, December 20. ADC, Jiribam sub division, Y Iboyaima was the chief guest, president of Observation Committee, Ch Bikramjit was the president, president of All Jiribam Meira Paibee (AJMP), Th Thoinu, president of Jiri Ima Meira Paibee Apunba Lup (JIMPAL), K Subhasini, president of All Jiri Tribal Union, Hena Vaiphei and Councillor of Ward No.1, Tehmang Panmei were the the guests of honour.
Convenor of the Observation Committee, L Surendrakumar, while giving the keynote address, said that a number of Nishaband and Lups had been trying to save the state from the devastating effects of all kinds of intoxicants since many years ago.
But the efforts have not been successful so far.
The government has also not formulated any concrete policy to control drugs and alchohol.
ADC, Jiribam, Y Iboyaima, in his speech as the chief guest, said that narcotics destroys not only an individual and a family but also creates disruptions in the society.
Parents and guardians must take significant role in keeping their children far away from all kinds of drugs and alcohols.
Iboyaima said, in the 17th century, the British flooded China with opium with the sole objective of occupying China.
Most of the Chinese people were made to be addicted to opium.
Now the AMADA has brought out the tragic chapter of Chinese history as a Shumang Lila called "Opium War." This will help the people understand the devastating effects of consuming intoxicants, the ADC pointed out.
Speaking on the occasion, Councillor of Ward No.1, Tehmang Panmei opined that it is never good to use any thing excessively.
If used more than the necessary quantity, anything becomes a kind of intoxicant.
The state is leading in both drugs and corruption.
Everyone must join hands to root out drugs from the soil of the state, he said.
A torch rally of Meira Paibees, clubs and representatives of different organisations led by ADC Jiribam was also taken out on the Jiribam roads at night.
The rallysts shouted slogans against drugs and alcohol.