Tura, June 26: Citizens of Tura united with a pledge to fight the meance of drug addiction while observing the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with the theme ‘Breaking the Chains: Prevention, Treatment and Recovery for All’ today.
The function held at Captain Williams School, Daldagre, organised by the District Welfare Office, West Garo Hills in collaboration with District Sankalp – Hub for Empowerment of Women and Adil Gandhian Society, Tura is part of the month long programme under the initiative of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, Ministry of Social Justice, Government of India. It aims to raise awareness about the dangers of drugs and its harmful consequences and work towards drug demand reduction.
Today’s event brought together participants from various Government Departments and agencies, Academic Institutions, NGO’s, and members of local communities to pledge their commitment in the fight against drugs and illicit trafficking.
Speaking as the Chief Guest at today’s function, Florina Boro, ADC, said that drug abuse is increasingly becoming rampant among the youth and underlined the need for all in the community to work collectively to safeguard the environment in which young people spend most of their time in.
‘The District Administration is doing its part but as parents, teachers, guardians, friends and as a community we also have to do our part to fight this menace and protect ourselves and others’, she said.
During his address, Krison R. Marak, Additional SP, explained that the use, consumption and selling of illegal drugs was a punishable offence. He further explained that school students and teenagers were amongst the most vulnerable section of people that can fall prey to drugs and substance abuse unknowingly and detailed the measures that can be adopted to protect them.
During the programme, Amesa Chesrame S. Sangma, Counsellor, Addiction Treatment Facility (ATF) Tura Civil Hospital highlighted the ill effects of drugs on the human body and the steps that can be taken to help victims of drug abuse.
The winners of the various competitions including the Poster writing competition held during the month long outreach and awareness campaign were also felicitated by the dignitaries in today’s function.
