First drafting of drug policy completed; needed feedback's from various institutions and CVOs, Nemcha Kipgen
Source: IT News

Imphal, June 26 2019: "The first draft regarding drug policy of the state has completed and feedbacks from various institutions and civil voluntary organisations are needed", said Social Welfare and cooperation minister Nemcha Kipgen.

This was stated today in the observation of the International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking which was organised by Department of Social Welfare in collaboration with Federation of Indian NGOs for drug abuse prevention and Coalition against drug and alcohol (CADA) at Maharaja Chandrakirti Auditorium, palace compound.

Speaking as the president of the function Nemcha Kipgen said that according to National Survey the number of drugs and alcohol users has been increasing.

She added that it was very unfortunate that many school goers and youths who are the future pillars of the nation used various drugs and alcohol.

Nemcha said that parents should look after their children carefully and added that the parents should act as a role model for their children.

She said that youths should stay away from drugs and also from the peer pressure.

She further said that drug users not only affect themselves but also greatly affect the family also and added that use of drugs will not bring any solution.

Nemcha Kipgen further stressed that out of the three rehabilitations in India which is only for women, two rehabilitations centre were from Manipur which is situated at Sangaiparou and Churachandpur.

She added that Manipur has 21 Integrated Rehabilitations Centre for Addicts.

She appealed the people of the state as well as various CVOs to help in making an effective drug policy for the state.

Highlighting the brief history for the observance of International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, Director of Social welfare Ngangom Uttamkumar in his keynote address said that with the increased in drug abuse and illicit trafficking UN General Assembly on 1987 resolve to observe the day to fight unitedly against a drug abuse.

He further highlighted the theme for this year which is Health for Justice, Justice for health and added that as justice and health is correlated thus the theme came up.

Stressing the factors for the use of drug Uttamkumar said that a person who can't face the reality of life use drug to avoid the reality and also people take drugs for the sole purpose of pleasure.

He further said that wrong parenting also leads to the use of drug and the issues of poverty, unemployment leads to drug abuse and finally persons doing drug business tempt young people to do drugs.

He concluded that drug users should not be ostracize by the public but should be rehabilitated and streamline making it normal.

Guest of honour of the function Hijam Priyokumar who is the president in charge of CADA said that Manipur is in a troublesome situation where the people of Manipur seem to be in extinct state because of drugs and alcohol.

He criticised the government for not having a proper policy of drugs till now and added that state faced huge loss in the economy due to drug abuse.

He questioned whether there will be a government if there is no people in the state.

Education minister Th Radheshyam highlights the need for a scheme or a policy like Haksel gi tengbang for the poor drug users who wants to be streamlined and become normal but doesn't have enough money for rehabilitations.

Prizes for the state and district level painting competition and slogan competition were also distributed during the function.

Prizes include cash award and citations.

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