Lady police constables sensitized to issues of drugs and HIV & AIDS
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 12, 2013: A 2-day long sensitization programme on HIV & AIDS, Drug Use and Issues concerning Marginal Communities, which was held under the joint aegis of Manipur Police Training College (MPTC) and Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR) concluded at MPTC, Pangei today.

Speaking on the occasion as one of the resource persons, Abhiram Mongjam, Joint Director (Targeted Intervention), stated that mental ability of the police personnel can help in fighting HIV&AIDS and drug use and also help in addressing the issues concerning Marginal Communities.

"With the dawn of drugs in the State, a number of crimes have erupted in the State and in order to tackle this problem, the police personnel right from their training period needs to be sensitized on drugs use and also the issues concerning marginalized communities so that they could have a clear mindset concerning the sensitive issue", he said and added that until and unless use of drugs is reduced in the State, the rise of HIV& AIDS cannot be reduced in the State.

He also mentioned the case of the Punjab Police model in tackling drug issue in their State and pointed out the need to adopt similar model in Manipur as well.

Prof Dr RK Lenin, while speaking on the topic of "Drug use-Prevention and treatment options" stated that drug use is a 'chronic and relapsing disease' which should be treated like any other disease.

People suffering from this disease should not be despised and treated with hatred.

The people including the police personnel should be sensitized regarding this issue.

Dr Lenin also made the programme livelier by interacting with the participants and helping the participants to respond back with his oratory skills.

The participants, who were all lady constables presently undergoing training at MPTC also raised various questions to the resource persons regarding HIV&AIDS and drugs and cleared their earlier apprehensions over the issue.

While sharing his experiences, Roshan, Project Manager and member of Crisis Response Team (CRT), SASO, recounted various instances where police personnel resorted to harassment of drug users, taking away money from them for possessing syringes.

He also mentioned the positive side of the police personnel and said that "Even though Drug users are often harassed by the police but I was also touched when we came to know that a police officer and his team rushed a person who was overdosed on Heroin to RIMS.

The person could not be saved, but we, as people working for drug use prevention and treatment, salute the gesture of the cooperation and sensitivity displayed by the team.

The officer appreciated our work and exchanged mobile numbers so that we can coordinate our response in future".

Naorem Brojendro, Special Public Prosecutor, Customs, NCB also spoke on the topic "Arrest and Prosecution under NDPS Act" and deliberated on the quantity of drugs which one could posses for consumption; intermediate quantity and commercial quantity which are punishable under the law.

The function was also attended by Vandana Karki, Addl Director, MPTC; Asst Commandant H Gyaneshwar and Asst Commandant L Priyadarshini as presidium members.

Comment