Anti-drug message reverberates through State
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 26 2009: Manipur today joined the International community in observing International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The theme for this year's observance was 'Do drugs control your life ? Your life, your community.

No place for drugs'.

While social organisations like AMADA and CADA which have been launching vigorous campaign against drug abuse and alcoholism organised separate mass rallies, public meetings and blood donation camps, State Social Welfare Department joined hands with the NGOs working on prevention of drug abuse in observing the day at GM Hall here.

BSF Manipur sector, Koirengei also observed the day along with organising a seminar cum meeting on the issue of drug abuse and a vehicle rally at Imphal.

Carrying the message of 'Stop drug abuse and illicit trafficking', AMADA organised a mass public rally attended by hundreds of people here today.

The event was sponsored jointly by Manipur Chemist and Druggist Association, Regional Research Training Centre, Northeast Region-I (RRTC-NE-1), Manipur Voluntary Health Association and Manipur Network of Positive People.

Anti-drug public meeting underway at THAU ground

Flagged off from THAU ground, Thangmeiband, the rally passed through Khoyathong, PCTC Oil Pump, North AOC, Hatta Minuthong, Telipati, Lamlong Bazar, Dingku Road, Chingmeirong and Lilashingkhongnangkhong before regrouping at the starting point where a public meeting was held.

The meeting proceeded with MLA RK Anand and AMADA president Padamini Leima gracing the dais as chief guest and functional president respectively.

Medical Superintendent of RIMS Y Mohen; Deputy Superintendent of Excise Headquarters, Lamphel A Kiran; System Director of YAS T Punachandra, information and publicity cum finance secretary of Jamitul Ulma'e Manipur Moulana Yusuf Ahamed Qasmi were present as guests of honour.

THAU president Kh Bira Meitei, MCDA secretary Dr RK Ratankumar, chief functionary of RRTC-NE-I Dr A Jayantakumar, secretary of Manipur Voluntary Health Association N Sarat and president of Manipur Network of Positive People Deepak Leimapokpam attended the public meeting as special invitees.

Delivering the key note address of the meeting, secretary general of AMADA Head office Ph Phony Meitei said the problem of drug abuse among the youngsters who are the future pillars of the society should be stopped with the collective efforts of all sections of the society instead of leaving it as the task of Meira Paibis, voluntary social organisations, NGOs and the Government alone.

Various resolutions were also adopted at the meeting.

The resolutions include to stop conversion of Eastern Bengal and Assam Excise Act, 1910, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1911 as revenue policies, functioning of the excise service in the State, to bring Excise Department under Home Department instead of Finance Department, conducting mass awareness at every localities on the problem of drug abuse, inclusion of the issue in the education curriculum, to dissuade those who are brewing liquor as their livelihood, to ensure proper health care service for all, to make sports and education free zone, to stop corruption in sports and education, to take up the issue of drug in Manipur at international level and encourage collective effort in fighting against the menace of drug abuse in Manipur.

The weeklong campaign against the abuse and trafficking of intoxicants organised by Coalition Against Drug and Alcohol (CADA) ended with the observance of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at Kangla Hall today.

MLA Bijoy Koijam, CADA headquarters president Keisham ongbi Taruni Devi and All Manipur Working Journalist Union president S Hemant graced the occasion as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

RIMS Associate Professor Dr RK Lenin and Professor N Mohendra spoke as resource persons.

The function attended by various personalities from different parts of the State decided to continue the ongoing campaign to uproot the intoxicants.

It further resolved to take active part in all the campaigns initiated against the abuse and trafficking of intoxicants.

The function also decided to work together with the Government Departments, civil society organisations and NGOs in standing against the intoxicants.

At GM hall here, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, 2009 was observed by Department of Social Welfare, Government of Manipur in association with NGOs working in the field of drug abuse prevention.

Social Welfare Minister N Loken Singh and MLA Dr I Ibohalbi Singh were chief guest and functional president of the observance which was also attended by Commissioner of Social Welfare Letkhogin Haokip and Director of Social Welfare S SK Sharma as guests of honour.

Narcotics Control Bureau (Regional Unit), Imphal also observed the day along with other agencies and distributed posters, badges, etc among the people apart from rededicating to fight against drug trafficking in all its dimensions.

Action and Implementation for Development (Chingamakha Irom Leirak), Improvement League Foundation (Sagolband Wahengbam Leikai), Light & Light Foundation (Kwakeithel Thokchom Leikai), etc also observed the day.

Our correspondent from Tamenglong adds: International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed today at Circuit House, Tamenglong.

Organised by Zeliangrong Women Unit, Tamenglong district and supported by Drug De-addiction Centre, Tamenglong, the observance was graced by SP Tamenglong Gonglin Faumei and vice president of ZWU Precila as guest of honour and functional president respectively.

CMO Tamenglong Dr Chambo and editor of Dihcham daily Ramkung Panmei were among the resource persons who spoke at the occasion.