SHILLONG, March 30: Social Welfare Minister, Kyrmen Shylla, on Tuesday stressed on the need for more NGOs to work towards the cause of making Meghalaya substance abuse-free, especially by zeroing in on the districts that lack facilities such as counseling, treatment and rehabilitation of addicts.
Shylla was speaking as the chief guest after unveiling the foundation stone of the Kripa Foundation De-Addiction Centre for Juveniles at Mawkasiang, New Shillong.
According to a statement on Tuesday, the de-addiction centre will be run by KRIPA Foundation through PPP mode with the Social Welfare department.
“The first youth de-addiction centre in Meghalaya and the North East, Kripa Foundation De-Addiction Centre for Juveniles aims to reach out to children and adolescents in the community for early childhood intervention and risks, such as aggressive behavior, which can be changed with professional interventions that focus on helping children develop appropriate, positive behaviors and re-integrate them back in the society as productive and efficient citizens,” the statement said.
Shylla, who called the de-addiction centre a landmark achievement, also stressed on the importance of cooperation from the citizenry, family support, intervention by educators, law enforcers, service providers etc., to address the menace of drug abuse.
Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials under the Nasha-Mukt Bharat Campaign were also unveiled by the minister.