SHILLONG, March 30: East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo on Tuesday lauded the efforts of District Social Welfare department and partner NGOs for conducting awareness events, campaigns, road shows, trainings for volunteers, door-to-door visits and several other interventions in the last five months, all aimed towards eradicating substance abuse in the state.
Laloo, who is also the chairperson of District-Level Nasha-Mukt Bharat Abhiyan Committee, was speaking during the concluding programme on Nasha-Mukt Bharat Abhiyan 2020-2021 at KJP Assembly Conference Hall, Shillong.
The programme was jointly organised by the East Khasi Hills District Administration and the office of the District Social Welfare Officer, East Khasi Hills.
Laloo, during the programme, cautioned the youths against the habits of substance abuse, saying that these practices can affect them physically, mentally and emotionally.
She also maintained that peer groups, churches, communities, NGOs and civil society organisations have a very important role to play in disseminating awareness on the evils of substance abuse.
Laloo also appealed to the citizenry to be compassionate towards the victims of substance abuse and to abstain from stigmatising them.
Earlier, DSWO, M Kharkongor, presented a report on the activities organised by the Committee in the last five months.