MCPCR chief stresses trained child counsellors
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 17 2024:
There is the need to appoint a trained child counsellor in each educational institutions to check where children could go wrong, the state of their mental health, any changes in their behaviour, and provide counselling, if necessary, so as to protect child rights, said Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) chairperson Keisam Pradipkumar.
He made the statement at a state level review cum consultation on 'Joint Action Plan on Substance Abuse among Children and Illicit Trafficking' organised jointly by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) at the Loktak Hall of Manipur Press Club, here, on Friday.
Pradipkumar said that the meeting has been organised to discuss a joint action plan with stakeholders to find out how children are affected by drugs and substance abuse, and the best way to prevent same.
He continued that it would be wrong to assume that drug addiction only happens among people above 18 years of age, adding that those below 18 years of age are abusing drugs secretly and could be considered as an emerging drug addict community.
There are reports of children aged 12 -13 years abusing drugs or other psychotropic substances.
Thus, there is the need for collective efforts between the Education, Social Welfare and Police departments to prevent the same, he stressed.
The MCPCR chairperson then said that a sign board should be put up near every school highlighting the law against sale of illegal substances within 100 metres of the school.
He again appealed for appointing a trained child counsellor in all schools, while urging parents to seek the help of the doctors if they find their children abusing drugs.
Informing that a child-only rehabilitation centre had been set up in Kakching, Pradipkumar said that drug addiction is curable with timely and proper treatment, instead of assuming that drug addicts are criminals from the get-go.
He then urged all stakeholders covered under the Joint Action Plan to pay more attention in this regard.
Expressing concern over the rising number of young drug users amid the prevailing crisis in the state, he said that it has come to the point of ordering and delivering drugs online.
As such, the present situation must not be taken be lightly, he cautioned, while appealing to all families, schools and institutions to take a proactive role in saving the children from the influence of drugs.
The meeting was also attended by Imphal East deputy commissioner Khumanthem Diana, Social Welfare director Ng Uttam, joint director Bantee Konthoujam, Narcotic & Affairs of Border (NAB) SP W Basu and Education (s) senior research officer Laishram Ibechaobi as presidium members.
During the technical session, MCPCR programme officer Sumel Yumnam spoke on 'Joint Action Plan on Substance Abuse among Children and Illicit Trafficking'; Bantee Konthoujam on 'State's Initiative Towards Prevention & Intervention of Drugs & Substance Abuse in the State'; Department of Psychiatry, RIMS Prof Rk Lenin on 'Impact of Substance Abuses amongst Children- A Way Forward'; W Basu on 'Intervention of Law Enforcement Agencies on Drug Supply Reduction- Issues and Challenges' and State Level Committee (SLC), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment director Dr Aheibam Jayanta on 'Treatment & Rehabilitation of Substance Abuse Children in Manipur' as resource persons.
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