Shillong, June 25: The Dorbar Shnong Lummawbah on Saturday organised an awareness programme on drug abuse, as part of the observation of International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking, at Shonroy Basan Secondary School, Lummawbah, Shillong.

Speaking on the occasion, Local MLA and Cabinet Minister Hamletson Dohling expressed concern over the rising number of youth indulging in drug abuse. Youth being the future of the state and the country, there is a need for a proper mechanism to be kept in place so that our youth does not fall prey to drug abuses, he said.

“I have always stood by my principle that development comes in two types, Infrastructural Development and Human Resources Development, although the former is very important but the need to develop the society and the residents is also as important”, he said.

Stating that drug abuse is a global phenomenon, starting from one’s own society in tackling these problems will go a long way in solving these menaces. He exhorted the participants in the programme to sensitize and pass on the message to others.

The collective effort of all stakeholders is the need of the hour, he said. The government or the police department alone cannot tackle this problem, hence he strongly encouraged each and every responsible resident to come forward and curb this menace of drug abuse. He expressed hope that through this programme, a lot of lives can be changed for the better.

The resource persons for the programme included W Nongneng, Officer in Charge, Jhalupara Outpost and B W Sohkhlet, Assistant Professor (Sociology Department), Umshyrpi College, Shillong.

Others who were present include Padma, Dr Badaplin War, E Thangkhiew, Headman of Lummawbah, members of the Dorbar and various local NGOs.