GANGTOK: In a significant development for mental health and substance abuse prevention, Lungchok village in Sombaria established its first-ever "Sarathi Samaj" on January 14. This initiative is part of the Sarathi 1.0 program, which seeks to foster addiction-free and mentally healthy communities throughout Sikkim, in line with the goals set by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang.
Launched on December 24, 2024, in Soreng District, Sarathi 1.0 has been actively training Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) to address substance abuse and mental health issues. Goma Sharma, an ASHA worker, led the formation of the Sarathi Samaj in Lungchok, marking it as the first village to implement this program.
The initiation of the Sarathi Samaj was marked with a public awareness meeting at Lungrok Salangdang Gram Prashasan Kendra. Local stakeholders like chairperson of the Gram Prashasan Kendra, Block Development Councillor, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) workers, and community members attended the event.
In the meeting, Goma Sharma stated that society was formed for a purpose - creating a nurturing environment through strategic interventions and counseling. The Block Councillor stressed that Sarathi Society represents a movement which ensures essential support for individuals going through substance abuse and mental health challenges.
An operating committee has been constituted to oversee the activities of Sarathi Samaj, and it will officially start functioning in February 2025. Detailed action plans will be presented at the Gram Sabha meeting, which will be a very important step for Sikkim in building healthier communities.
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