Chairperson of Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) Keisam Pradipkumar on Friday stressed the need for stakeholders to widen demographic sample size across all age groups in analysis of impact of drugs.
“A large chunk of the population using psychotropic substances and tobacco products start from as early as 10 years old. As such, any initiative and policies aimed at rectifying the impact must take these changing trends into account,” he said.
He was speaking at the one-day State Level Review cum Consultation on the Joint Action Plan on Substance Abuse and illicit Trafficking held at Manipur Press Club, Imphal.
The event was jointly organised by the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) in collaboration with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
He emphasised the need for dynamic initiatives to trigger paradigm shift in the prevention and treatment of youths affected by drugs.
Pradipkumar appealed to all to make school campuses free of intoxicants by involving teachers as mediators.
Trained counsellors should be employed to interact and study the behavioural changes of students, he added.
Manipur Social Welfare director Ng Uttam emphasised the need for a collective effort to tackle the menace of drugs.
“Instead of counsellors it would be more beneficial to open Crisis Intervention Centres at schools. The centres can coordinate with the nearest accessible children homes and rehab centres to formulate school specific programmes,” he said.
He stated that the centres could coordinate on counselling and drug related programmes by doing so.
He also noted that section 77 and 78 under the Juvenile Justice Act were suitable for dealing with young drug offenders instead of the NDPS act.
Meanwhile, Imphal East DC Khumanthem Diana stated that the Joint Action Plan was enacted as per NCPCR and MCPCR guidelines at several district administrations across the state.
Regular Narcotic Coordination meetings are also organised for Imphal East, she added.
She highlighted district administration played a pivotal role in challenging the menace of drugs by identifying areas of poppy plantations and monitoring rehab or TRUST centres within the respective districts.
During the technical session, experts such as Dr A Jayanta, Dr RK Lenin, NAB SP W Basu, and Social Welfare joint director Bantee Konthoujam provided insights on various drug related issues.
Representatives from various state departments including education, social welfare, NAB, pharmaceutical companies, and the police department attended the consultation.
