No relief from drug, liquor scourge: CADA
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 09 2023: In-spite of the government intensifying its War on Drugs mission, impact of drugs and alcohol in the society is increasing, said Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) general secretary Geetchandra Mangang.

Speaking at a one-day awareness programme on 'impact of drugs & alcohol in the society, violence against women and children, and role of public in preventing it' held at Lairikyengbam Awang Leikai Primary School ground, Imphal East on Sunday, Geetchandra opined that government's campaign against drugs Under its War on Drugs mission seem to be having insignificant impact as is evident from increasing number of people using drugs and liquor.

So far, the focus of WoD mission is on busting drug trafficking and illegal manufacturing labs.

There is a major gap in the area of creating awareness and harm reduction activities, he said, while pointing out that the awareness campaign is an initiative on the parts of CSOs to fill up those gaps to some extent.

Underscoring the need for creating awareness about impact of substance abuse among the public, especially the youngsters, he called for proactive participation from local clubs and Meira Paibi groups at the grassroots level in the fight against drug menace.

Geetchandra also expressed his belief that the government will soon place in the public domain the whitepaper on liquor legalisation submitted by the expert committee constituted by the government, and that the public will peruse and analyse the report.

Nevertheless, the ultimate demand of CADA is to impose a blanket ban on liquor, he affirmed.

CADA, AMKIL, Nongpok Leingak Apunba Nupi Lup, Young Progressive Union Club, Lairkyengbam Awang Leikai, and Lairikyengbam Awang Leikai Lamjing Nupi Lup jointly organised the awareness programme with AMKIL president L Ngan-bi, CADA general secretary Geetchandra Mangang, Nongpok Leingak Apunba Lup president Y Memma, Lairikyengbam Awang Leikai Lamjing Nupi Lup vice-pres-ident L Chaobi and former ward member Y Amusana as the presidium members.

Khangembam Anandi spoke on various impacts of substance abuse and roles of public in preventing it, as one of the resource persons.

Meanwhile, in denunciation of the government's decision to legalise production and sale of liquor in Manipur, CADA in association with All Manipur Women's Social Reformation & Development Sa-maj (Nupi Samaj), Kanguch-ingjin Khullen Meira Paibi Lup, Development Committee and Naharol Club staged a sit-in protest at Kanguchingjin community hall, Imphal East district on Sunday.

A similar sit-in was staged by Nupi Samaj Lambal Meira Paibi Lup and CADA at Lambal Mayai Leikai, Imphal West district.

During these sit-ins, the protestors shouted slogans and held placards inscribed with slogans such as "What is hygienic liquor?", "Are all items which cannot be banned to be legalised?", "No to sale and brewing of liquor", "Is legalised liquor safe for consumption? Will it prevent crime?", "Will legali-sation truly help put an end to alcoholism when prohibition failed to do so?", 'Is revenue more important than human life?", "Does the government have no other means of earning revenue other than from liquor?", "Is legalisation the right step amid the War on Drugs campaign?", "No legalisation of liquor in Manipur", "Withdraw cabinet's decision", and " Save the people of Manipur from liquor", a release by CADA Information & Publicity secretary L Brojen Angomcha informed.

Comment