Ukhrul: Consultation to eradicate the unhealthy practice of drug abuse and poppy plantation and production of opium as well as to help drug addicts was held at Thoyee village of Kamjong district on the July 5, 2022 at Thoyee Baptist Church. The program was initiated by Baptist Churches Forum Ukhrul in collaboration with LMYAC (Litan Mapithel Yanganpokpi Area Churches).
Around 80 persons from 13 villages including village headmen, church pastors, women leaders and youth leaders of the area attended the meeting and around 62 persons including the vice president of Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), Tuisem Kamkara, Tangkhul Shano Long (TSL) president Thingreiphy Lungharwoshi and colleagues of TSL, pastors, women leaders, youth leaders of Baptist Churches Forum Ukhrul, and representatives from NGOs; FXB India Suraksha, NPP Counseling Centre from Ukhrul had a long deliberation on the rampant and increasing use of intoxicating drugs in the foothill area of Ukhrul and Kamjong district and increasing plantation of poppy to produce opium.
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The meeting unanimously resolved to take active part in war on drugs declared by the state government in three ways, firstly by helping people who have become addicted to drugs by initiating detoxification and rehabilitation facilities, secondly by spreading awareness on drug abuse to all parents and vulnerable children and adolescents of the area and thirdly, by involving in stopping plantation of poppy and trafficking of drugs. To fulfill this plan of action a committee will be formed by village headmen, pastors and leaders of the churches and villages for and of the area within July 2022.
Further the consultation emphasis on setting certain regulations and directives to be followed in the local level, setting up of counseling Centres by churches to help vulnerable youths and addicts to give moral, mental and spiritual support, organizing camps, awareness programs and seminars by various organizations.
Rev Remember Rimai, chairman of Ukhrul Town Baptist Churches Forum appealed to all the stakeholders and individuals to take ownership of this humongous task if this mission has to be achieved and conveyed that this is the fifth of such program, previously it was organized in Ukhrul mission ground, Bumrei Baptist church, Union Baptist church Ukhrul and Kamjong Baptist church for Kamjong head quarter, he also announced that in Kamjong a local committee has been formed and they have started taking active steps to achieve our common goal.
Further plans are made to organize such consultation at another 11 more places in Ukhrul and Kamjong district in the current year where the mentioned issue are found to be rampant and on the rise.
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