State observes International Day against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking

TURA/NONGSTOIN/MAWKYRWAT/WILLIAMNAGAR: Meghalaya observed the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with several awareness programmes organized across the state on Tuesday.
An awareness programme was organised for students by the West Garo Hills district administration in collaboration with district medical and health officer, district polic and social welfare department at the district auditorium in Tura.
The theme for this year’s celebration was “Listen First- Listening to children and youths is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe”.
Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, West Garo Hills deputy commissioner, Ram Singh touched upon the ill effects of substance abuse and how substances such as drugs and alcohol could distract students and hinder them from success.
“Social and cultural issues of using betelnut and local rice beer in the society tend to pose a tendency for overuse, which is harmful to a person’s life,” Singh said.
Additional deputy commissioner, Mary T Sangma spoke about the importance of creating awareness on the ill effects of drug abuse and illicit trafficking, especially among the youth of the region and called for creating a society free from drug abuse.
Psychiatrist and senior medical and health officer, Tura Civil Hospital, Bollen S Sangma highlighted the various forms of alcohol and drug abuse, their causes and harmful effects besides prevention and related treatment.
He said drug abuse was one of the biggest social problems threatening and having damaging effects on individuals, families and the community at large.
Referring to “over the counter medicines” or self medication, Bollen said taking medicine without the prescription of a medical practitioner or to continue taking medicine for a longer time than the time prescribed is also equal to substance abuse, resulting in serious consequences.
District child protection officer, Frederick Sangma sensitised the gathering about child rights and protection from child abuse, be it physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse.
Sangma also referred to the Juvenile Justice Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and their provisions in his presentation.
The day was also observed on the court premises of District and Sessions Judge in Williamnagar.
The district legal services authority in collaboration with the office of the District Child Protection Unit organised a daylong awareness programme for school students where the resource persons, B Marak and RS Mankin, officer-in-charge of Williamnagar Police Station, spoke at length on the theme.
The chief judicial magistrate, Silkam Sangma, while delivering the welcome address, informed the gathering that millions of people around the world die because of drug and substance abuse in one form or the other.
The BSF, Meghalaya Frontier too observed the day by organising a rally, comprising personnel from all units deployed in Shillong and students of BSF Senior Secondary School, Umpling.
The rally covered a 10-km stretch in the areas of Nongmynsong and NEGHRIHMS.
The students also performed street plays against drug abuse and illicit trafficking to spread the awareness. Medical camps were also conducted at border outpost of BSF.
The BSF also conducted an awareness programmes in all border outposts in the presence of villagers in the border areas as well as at the battalion headquarters at Mawpat, Dhanakgre and Dobasipara.
The day was observed at Joplang Secondary School Shallang in West Khasi Hills as well.
The programme was organised by the office of the district social welfare officer, Nongstoin, and was attended by several school students.
The resource persons, including C.Wahlang, counsellor from health department, Keshav Lamsal from Kripa Foundation and the officer-in charge of Shallang police station briefed the participants on the harmful effects of drugs and illegal trafficking.
The programme was welcomed by Albert Sangma, the principal of the school.
The office of the district social welfare officer in collaboration with the office of the district child protection officer, District Legal Services Authority and the Synjuk ki Seng Samla Shnong, Mawkyrwat observed the day with the theme, “Let’s Develop Our Lives, Communities and Identities – Without Drugs” at Sngap Syiem College.
South West Khasi Hills deputy commissioner, I. Laloo was the chief guest of the programme.
Laloo said the programme was organised with a view to create awareness amongst the youth about the consumption of drugs and its effects on health and society.
“At the same time, it serves as an eye-opener, a reminder and an outreach especially for young people in which interrelated issues like drug abuse and illicit trafficking, teenage pregnancies, child marriage and crime against women needs to be addressed and taken care of,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tte Shillong Commerce College NCC wing in collaboration with 61 Meghalaya Girls Battalion NCC has conducted a lecture on Drug Abuse and its consequence, where the resource person was from Volunteering Health association of Meghalaya.
The Lecture was followed by a rally from the college to the Unit headquarter, Laitumkhrah.