Shillong, July 25: SPARK, a city-based NGO, and the Department of Social Welfare, conducted a five-month awareness programme on drug abuse that concluded on Thursday.
The programme, which started in March, was conducted at Pongkung, Mawlynrei, Mawlong, Umsawli and Bara Bazaar slum targeting more than 300 participants. The resource persons for the programme were officials from Meghalaya Legal Aids Services, New Hope Centre, village leaders and members of SPARK.
(Read: State seeks community participation to fight drug abuse)
The objectives were to enlighten the community on the adverse effects of drugs and liquor and sensitise the community on ways to address the issues.
“We also aim at forming vigilance cells against drug abuse and alcoholism and network with allied systems to deal with the issues. This will help us make positive changes,” said a statement from SPARK.
The statement added that the groups formed with children and women yielded results.
Last year, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said around 40,500 youths were addicted to drugs and there is an urgent need to make Meghalaya drug-free.
“While the enforcement agencies are doing their work, we need to ensure that the 40,500 youth who are dependent on drugs are treated with empathy and taken care of so that they can integrate back into society as responsible and productive citizens,” he said.
