Ampati, June 26: South West Garo Hills marked the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Thursday with a powerful call for collective community action, held under the theme “Breaking the Chains: Prevention, Treatment and Recovery for All”.
The event, jointly organized by the Department of Social Welfare, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), and the District Sankalp Hub for Empowerment of Women, brought together over 130 stakeholders at the Multi-Facility Centre in Ampati.
Deputy Commissioner Hema Nayak, the Chief Guest, urged attendees to recognize drug and alcohol abuse not merely as individual or family issues, but as a pressing community-wide challenge. She highlighted the district’s unique vulnerability due to its borders with Assam and Bangladesh, which often serve as routes for illegal trafficking.
“We must first understand the local supply chain of drugs,” Nayak stressed adding, “and then take collective responsibility in curbing this menace.” She encouraged all participants, particularly students and community leaders, to actively engage in drug prevention activities as part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan to build a drug-free society.
Additional Superintendent of Police, Sengrikchi N. Marak, as the Guest of Honour, underscored the far-reaching consequences of drug abuse, extending beyond individual health to threaten broader societal safety and often leading to increased criminal activity. She emphasized the critical need for early community intervention.
The program featured a highly symbolic mass signature campaign, which saw enthusiastic participation from all attendees, including the Deputy Commissioner, symbolizing a unified resolve against drug abuse.
Earlier in the event, Z.R. Marak, District Social Welfare Officer, extended a warm welcome to the gathering and led a solemn pledge-taking ceremony.
Legal aspects of drug abuse were covered by T.M. Sangma, Public Prosecutor from DLSA, who elucidated on the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1988, and the Prevention of Illicit Trafficking Act. He issued a stern warning that both drug users and traffickers are liable for prosecution under the law, highlighting the alarming rise in the prevalence of substances like ganja and heroin in the region.
Leni Dokatchi B. Marak, Clinical Psychologist from Civil Hospital, Ampati, delivered an insightful session on the profound psychological and physiological impacts of drug addiction. She identified common triggers such as peer pressure, emotional distress, and simple curiosity among youth, underscoring the vital need for emotional resilience and awareness to combat drug dependency effectively.
In parallel with the main event, more than 247 schools across the district also observed the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, conducting pledge-taking ceremonies within their respective institutions as per directives from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
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