193 youths to avail free 45 days detox camp
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 28 2025: A State level 45-days free detoxification cum de-addiction camp for 193 individuals from marginalised and underprivileged backgrounds was opened today at Thangjam Birchandra-Maipakpi Community Hall, Chingmeirong, Imphal East.

The camp is being organised by the Union of Treatment and Rehabilitation of Users for Social Transformation (U-Trust) in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department.

Wangkhei AC MLA Thangjam Arunkumar opened the free detoxification cum de-addiction camp which is being organised under the theme "Stop Criminalization, Promote Healthy Treatment' .

MLA Thangjam Arunkumar, Social Welfare Director Anna Arambam and U-Trust president Herojit Sagolsem attended the opening function as chief guest, guest of honour and president respectively.

193 youths to avail free 45 days detox camp

Speaking at the opening function, MLA Arunkumar said that Manipur, though small in size, is fraught with several issues.

Issues like insurgency, unemployment and ethnic clashes have severely impacted the youth.

In addition to these issues, drug abuse is another critical issue in the State, the MLA said.

At one point of time in the past, there was an all pervasive wave of drugs in Manipur.

At that time, drug use was seen as a kind of fashion.

If one was said to be taking No 4, he was seen as a rich man, Arunkumar said.

Observing that several organisations like U-Trust have been taking key roles in rehabilitating many drug users, he appealed to all parents to bring them to rehabilitation centres in order to wean them away from drugs.

U-Trust executive member Sarungbam Arunkumar said that drug users must strive to kick their drugs habits and at the same time do something good for society.

Given the myriad issues plaguing Manipur at present, it would not be right for drug users to go on using drugs, he said.

Drug users ought to know how their parents have been spending substantial amounts of money to let them undergo treatment at rehabilitation centres and rehabilitate them to normal life, Sarungbam Arunkumar said.

Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) former president RK Nalinikanta underscored the importance of giving proper treatment to drug users instead of harassing them.

The Ministry of Home brought out a document in 2019 called 'National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances' .

It is essential to follow this policy in order to stop criminalization and promote healthy treatment, he said.

He called upon all sections of the society to work collectively in order to rehabilitate drug users and bring them to normal life instead of criminalizing them.

Nalinikanta also stressed the need for effective implementation of the State drug policy.

He appealed to the Social Welfare Department to upload the list of rehabilitation centres recognised by the department in its website.

U-Trust president Herojit Sagolsem said that U-Trust is a body formed by several registered bodies.

U-Trust is organising the free detoxification cum de-addiction camp with Rs 17,37,000 sanctioned under the Social Welfare Department, he said.

Altogether 193 drug users would be treated at the camp and the Government sanctioned Rs 9000 for each of them.

In addition to this amount sanctioned by the Government, each of the drug users registered for the camp must pay Rs 3000, Herojit said.

The 45-day camp will also feature a family counselling session, he added.