Administration of drug-free pledge on International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking in Kohima on June 26. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | June 26
Nagaland on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to a drug-free society as the state observed the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, with a collective pledge taken under the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.’
The main function, organised by the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) at the Capital Convention Hall in Kohima, was held under the global theme, ‘World Drug Problems; Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses.’
The pledge, administered by DSW Director Tosheli Zhimomi, saw the gathering and the stakeholders resolve a firm decision to make Nagaland drug-free.
“Today, we unite under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and take a pledge that not only the community, family, friends but also ourselves will be drug-free, because change should start with ourselves,” read the pledge. The attendees further affirmed, “I pledge that I will do everything possible to the best of my ability to make my country drug-free.”
Govt committed to strengthening NDPS Act
Nagaland government is committed to strengthening mechanisms to enforce the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, tightening border monitoring, and increasing the number of De-addiction centres in the state, Advisor for Social Welfare Wangpang Konyak said in his address.
While Law enforcement agencies have done a commendable job in recent times in curbing the supply of illicit trafficking of drugs, MLA said the state government has declared ‘War on Drugs’ to save future generations from the menace of substance abuse. He stated that law enforcement and state mechanisms alone cannot win this war and called for concerted effort to combat drug abuse.
“The government, the church, civil society, and families must form an unbreakable, multi-layered shield,” he said, urging all other stakeholders to extend proactive collaboration to shield “our youth from bad influences, create drug-free local zones and encourage positive peer pressure through sports, music and vocational skill building.”
Stating that Nagaland has long been a vulnerable transit corridor and an unfortunate destination for illicit trafficking due to its proximity to international border routes, the Advisor said, “Generations of the youth have been silently consumed by the trap of substance dependency.”
He called upon teachers and educators to ensure that schools become safe havens from the menace, providing necessary intervention to safeguard future generations.
In alignment with the Government of India, the state government is also conducting massive awareness campaigns across the state through the District Level Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) Committee, he said.
Meanwhile, Mima village council of Kohima district was awarded the Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyaan award, which is a Rs 1 lakh incentive grant awarded to the top 1,000 performing Gram Panchayats across India that demonstrate sustained improvements in local nutrition and infrastructure metrics. Wangpang handed over the award.
