Calls against drug abuse issued
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 26 2012: Like in other parts of the world Manipur too joined in the observance of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

While NGOs, and various other organisations, including Central security forces organised functions at their respective locations/areas on the year's theme 'Think Health-Not Drugs', Department of Social Welfare, Government of Manipur observed the event at Bal Bhavan, Khuman Lampak with Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai Devi as the chief guest.

Moirang AC MLA M Prithviraj and Manipur State Social Welfare Board chairperson RK Noyonsana Devi attended the observance as the functional president and guest of honour respectively.

Strongly advocating the need to sanitise Manipuri society from the scourge of drug abuse and illicit trafficking, AK Mirabai grimly noted that some NGOs are not performing upto the people's expectations.

Seeking cooperation of all concerned, especially the NGOs in promoting a healthy society, she conveyed that every individual need to contribute their mite in the fight against drug abuse and drug smuggling.

Conceding that effectively tackling the menace of drug abuse is a herculean task, the Minister nevertheless exuded confidence that sincere and dedicated campaign by the NGOs in collaboration with Government agencies would be able to significantly reduce the problem of substance abuse and illicit trafficking.

Pointing out that 21 NGOs are being provided financial assistance by the Social Welfare Department, Mirabai reiterated her appeal to these NGOs to strive for resulted-oriented activities and save the Manipuri youths rather than expect the Department to continuously pump in funds.

The Minister, who earlier in the morning flagged-off an autorickshaw rally in connection with the global observance, also informed that intimation has been received from the central Government to work out an effective anti-drug policy and present the same within this month.

Lamenting that only Rs 5 crore budgetary allocation has been made for the Social Welfare Department contrary to the need for Rs 700 crore, she expressed apprehension on whether the plan for increasing old age pension amount could be achieved with the budgetary provision.

Calling upon all concerned to sustain the campaign against child labour along with asserting that efforts are on to constitute Child Protection Committee, the Minister also confided that the Department is targeting to cover over 3000 widows under a specific welfare scheme of the Department.

In her speech, Manipur State Social Welfare Board chairperson RK Noyonsana applauded role of Manipuri women in the fight against substance abuse as well as on various social issue.

Highlighting that manipur is facing multiple problem of drug abuse, child trafficking, domestic violence against women and HIV/AIDS endemic, she strongly emphasised that campaigns against anti-social elements should be sustained to save the future generation of Manipur.

Among others, Social Welfare Commissioner Letkhogin Haokip and Director (Social Welfare) G Satyabati also attended the observance.

Earlier, the autorickshaw rally covered different locations of imphal East and West districts and converged at Bal Bhavan to attend the observance function.

Slogans to resist/desist from drug abuse were raised during the rally.

The observance commenced with the opening song presented by children of Bal Bhavan.

The 26 Sector (HQs) Assam Rifles under the aegis of IGAR (S) organised a seminar with the theme "Think Health � Not Drugs" in connection with the observance to highlight detrimental effect that prolonged usage of substance has on the physical and mental well-being.

The function was presided over by IGAR (S) Maj Gen UK Gurung, who in his keynote address highlighted 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.

The seminar was attended by SP Vandana from Crime Branch, Amar Yumnam, Prof Ch Priyoranjan and Prof Rajan from MU, medical institutes, educationists and renowned NGOs working in the field of drug de-addiction and rehabilitation.

Eminent speakers brought to light the role of various agencies in combating the menace and curtailing its spread in younger generation and were unanimous about the complexities of drug addiction, engulfing our young generations, conveyed the PRO release.

It was an emotional moment when one Gangadhar from Community in Network Empowerment (CONE), who himself was a drug addict explained, how he fought the menace in search for a brighter and drug free future.

The most engrossing and interesting session was the panel discussion where the youth came out freely to interact with the intelligentsia.

Manipur, one of the largest suppliers and consumers of illicit opium products, rank third in India based on the percentage of drug users and with 28 percent of the population under the influence of drug has one of the highest cases of injecting drug users (IDU) in India.

The trend of drug abuse is on the rise with IDU accounting for 80.7 percent HIV cases in the state of Manipur in 2007, pointed out the release.

Detrimental to physical and mental health of the society, drugs are the highest single cause of domestic violence and mortality rate amongst youth in the age bracket of 25 to 35 years as per a survey conducted in 2010.Hence, there is an urgent need to address the problem of drug abuse by instituting measure such as drug education in school curriculum, effectively engaging the youth and promoting dynamic partnership between youth and their families, it maintained.

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

Vigilant and alert Assam Rifles in their endeavour with NCB has confiscated and destroyed 2338 kgs of contraband drugs.

At Mantripukhri headquarters of 69 Bn CRPF, troops and officials of the CRPF unit observed the event with lecture sessions, display and distribution of banners/posters to create awareness.

In his address, Second in-command (Commandant) Helal Firoz exhorted the unit personnel and the public to relentlessly campaign for creating awareness on the menace of drug abuse and illicit trafficking, said a 69 Bn CRPF release.

Besides taking solemn pledge to care of health and to prevent the society from such menace, CMO of the unit also educated the personnel about the ill effects of drug abuse.

Meanwhile, Narcotics Control Bureau, Police, Customs, Medical and educational institutions and NGOs 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, said a PRO IGAR (S) release.

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