NAMSAI, Apr 30:     Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein mooted to convert the Drug De-Addiction Centre, Lathao into a Rehabilitation Centre observing that despite being affected by rampant drug addictions, the State still does not have a single rehabilitation centre.

 

He said this while speaking at the valedictory function here which saw 53 drug addicts including five women de-addicted in the first phase of drug de-addiction camp organized by the Women Welfare Society, Namsai at Drug De-Addiction Centre, Lathao. The one month long drug de-addiction camp that began on April 2 last was sponsored by the Oil India Limited, Duliajan under their Corporate Social Responsibility Scheme.

                

Lauding the WWS, Mein assured government support in running the drug de-addiction camp on regular basis. Citing the shortage of manpower and skilled persons to run the drug de-addiction centre, he opined to hand it over to interested NGO or society willing to run the De-addiction or Rehabilitation centre and assured the support of the state government.

 

He further asserted that it is high time that the Agriculture and Horticulture Department should be serious about alternative crops to poppy cultivation. ‘The departments should work in coordination with the District Administration in finding suitable crops for the specific areas and districts for alternate crops,’ the DCM stressed.

 

He also assured to extend the package of alternate crops to the de-addicted persons and advised them not to relapse which is not only harmful to their life but also affects their family and whole society.

Parliamentary Secretary for Planning & Personnel, Chau Zingnu  Namchoom also assured to render all possible support from his side as a local MLA for regular functioning of the Drug De-addiction Centre. He informed that the government is very concerned about drug addictions and efforts are on to accelerate the developmental process taking along farmers, women and educated youths to counter such menace.

 

He further urged the de-addicted persons to support the Women Welfare Society, District Administration and the Police in fighting the drug menace by sharing necessary information.

Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bijay Talukdar, District Medical Officer, N Rika, Women Welfare Society (Namsai) President, Shristi Maio and General Secretary, Pinjira Namchoom and senior citizen also spoke on the occasion.

 

Inmates also shared their experiences and expressed their gratitude to the Women Welfare Society and the government for providing such facility and environment for their recovery. They also formed a group named, Anti-drug addiction group to fight the menace and to support the Women Welfare Society and the District Administration.

 

It is pertinent to inform here that the drug de-addiction centre was lying non-functional since its inauguration in the year 2014. It was only after the allocation of fund from the government during the last financial year that it was renovated and made functional this year under the initiative of Deputy Chief Minister.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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