Manipur: Awareness programme on prevention of drug abuse among children held

Thoubal: A one-day awareness campaign on anti-drug abuse in schools and colleges under the Joint Action Plan on Protection of Drug and Substance Abuse among Children and Illicit Trafficking was held Tuesday at Lamding Higher Secondary School. The programme was organised by ZEO Thoubal in convergence with the Office of the Superintendent of Police Thoubal and CMO Thoubal under the aegis of District Administration Thoubal. 

The main purpose of organising the programme is to raise awareness and educate the students about drug abuse and other abusive substances. Around 600 students from classes IX to XII in two higher secondary schools in the district will receive awareness materials. 

Sapam Babita, Chief Functionary, RVS, Thoubal; W. Ibocha, SDPO, Thoubal; and Kishorchand Konsam, Clinical Psychologist, District Hospital, Thoubal, were the program’s resource people. A similar programme will be held at Heirok Higher Secondary School, too.

To ensure a “nasha-mukt Bharat (drug free India)”, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) jointly with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)  released a “joint action plan on the prevention of drug and substance abuse among children and illicit trafficking.” Envisaged as a framework to wean children away children from drug abuse and to stop selling drugs in surrounding areas of schools/educational and child care institutions through convergent actions in a time-bound manner. 

By including children in the process, not only will school areas become safer spaces, but an entire generation will be sensitised about substance abuse. According to the plan, on January 27, 2023, the District Magistrate of Thoubal issued an order under Section 133 of the CrPc requiring all medical stores in the district selling Schedule H and X drugs to install CCTV cameras on their premises.

 Today’s drive comes under the CM Biren-led state government’s ‘War Against Drugs’ mission and “Zero Tolerance Policy” against poppy plantations. The District Administration Kamjong has received full support from village chiefs and villagers in the areas targeted today.