Shillong, July 14: The office of the district social welfare along with the police department of Madanriting today organizes a rally against drugs abuse and illicit trafficking from the Madanriting Police station to the community hall.
Smti M. Kharkongor, Chairperson, State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Meghalaya graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The programme was also attended by Smt C. Lyngwa, Spl. SP, CID, Smti Z.J.Lyngdoh, District Social Welfare Officer, East Khasi Hills, Shri W. A. Kharkongor, Assistant Director, MACS, Shri B. Kharkongor, Rangbah Shnong, Madanrting, Executive Members Dorbar Shnong Madanrting, members of VHAM, VDP, NGOs, Church organisation, teachers and students of Madanrting areas.
Speaking on the occasion, Smti Kharkongor stressed on the importance of such programme to reach out to the youth to educate them about the menace of alcohol, drugs and substance abuse. She also said that drug abuse has become a major social concern and student has become very vulnerable to fall into the trap, while also urging upon the school management and teachers to pay more attention to children and take proactive steps to prevent the students from falling victims so such grave disaster of drug addiction. She also appealed to the civil society to come forward and help to eradicate this social menace.
The locality saw rising of drugs abuse with police making eminent arrest in many cases. The rally was meant to motivate the youth to shy away from all kind of drugs or unhealthy habits. Numerous schools from the locality came forward to spread the message against drugs abuse with the theme ‘Listen First’. “This type of rally happens every year but it is not enough unless the people work hand in hand with the police to uproot this social evil from being practice in the society” said the Officers in Charge of Madanriting Mr O.Syiemlieh.
Smti Z.J Lyngdoh clearly indicates that there has been rises in drugs users in the state regardless of their gender. She also points out the affect of using drugs to the school children before and after rally to remind them to stay away from such temptation. The schools that participate in this rally were St. Peters Higher Secondary, H.L Mizo Secondary, Madan Hindi Pathshala, Holy Child and Madanriting Presbyterian higher secondary school.
Let us re-dedicate and commit ourselves to help the alcoholic and the substance users to bring back to the main stream by accepting and extending our love, care and support, she added.Other highlights of the day include an awareness rally, prize distribution to winners of slogan competition, technical session on HIV & Drug, Role of the Community in combating drug abuse, Role of the Police in combating Drugs Trafficking followed by an interactive session. The Resource Persons includes Shri K. Kharbangar, Programme Manager, VHAM, Shri R.Rajee, President, VDP, Madanrting, Shri O. Syiemlieh, OC, Madanrting Police Station.
