From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH, Dec 14: A public rally was taken out as part of a public awareness programme addressing the dangers of drug abuse and the threat of HIV/AIDS, which was organised by the Catholic Youth of Umsning Parish, in collaboration with the Ri Bhoi Area Welfare Association (RAWA).
In the public rally, which started from the CFC Hall Parish, participants carried banners and chanted slogans denouncing drug abuse and raising awareness about HIV/AIDS as they marched toward the Umsning playground, where the main programme was held.
The event featured several prominent attendees, including Eddie G Kharbani, a respected local leader, who served as the chief guest; Rocky Kylla, Chairman of Umsning Town Durbar; B Umbah, president of RAWA; Meban Tariang, centre head of KRIPA Foundation; R Ranee, Assistant Director of IEC MACS; and E Marak, Officer-in-Charge of Umsning Police Station.
In his speech, Eddie Kharbani expressed gratitude to the KRIPA Foundation team for their efforts in educating the public about the challenges of drug addiction. He admitted that, prior to the programme, he had not fully understood the severity of the issue.
Kharbani shared a personal experience from his tenure as the village headman of Lumnongrim Dewlieh. He recalled an incident when the community discovered that some youths were abusing drugs. A meeting was called, and during a visit to a suspected youth’s home, villagers found a box full of used syringes. When questioned, the youth claimed the syringes were used for administering medicine to chickens. Unaware of the signs of drug abuse at the time, the villagers believed him and left.
Reflecting on the past, Kharbani noted that drug abuse was once predominantly associated with affluent families. However, he lamented that drugs have now infiltrated even the poorest households, driven by individuals seeking quick profits at the expense of young lives. He commended the organisers for their proactive efforts and urged them to conduct similar programmes in other areas. He also appealed to parents to closely monitor their children, emphasising the need for open communication to prevent them from falling into the trap of addiction, which has devastating consequences for families and society.
Centre head of the KRIPA Foundation, Meban Tariang, encouraged the youth to choose a life free from drugs. He emphasised that drug addiction not only destroys the individual but also tears apart the social fabric of communities.
Sharing his personal journey as a former addict, Tariang spoke about how drugs rob individuals of their physical health, mental clarity, and spiritual well-being. He explained that addiction leads to an all-consuming focus on satisfying cravings, leaving no room for proper nutrition, productive work, or rational thinking, ultimately causing a steep decline in quality of life.
The speakers also highlighted the link between drug abuse and the spread of HIV/AIDS, urging the youth to learn from the experiences of recovered addicts. They appealed to those who have experimented with drugs to stop immediately before the damage becomes irreversible, stressing the importance of taking action while there is still time.