Prohibition Week begins in Hailakandi district

 Hailakandi, Feb 4: Prohibition Week on alcohol and drug abuse began in Hailakandi district as part of the death anniversary of Father of the tion, Mahatma Gandhi.

 A meeting was held at Mocherra High School to generate awareness among people about ill-effects of addiction to dissuade them from consuming liquor and drugs, stated a press release. Speaking on the occasion, Superintendent of Police, Prab Jyoti Goswami said drugs were a mece posing a grave threat to society and awareness was the key to wean the youths away from all forms of addiction. Expressing happiness that the prohibition week had started off from a high school in the presence of a large number of students, Goswami said, “The youths are easily lured to addiction and the ever increasing incidents of crime we witness today are attributed to drugs and alcohol. It is, therefore, a step in the right direction that the week-long awareness campaign begins in a high school in the presence of a large number of students.”

 Goswami also advocated for counseling for those habituated to drugs and alcohol in de-addiction centres, besides legal and medical help. The SP said cases of drugs abuse in Hailakandi district were comparatively less compared to other parts of the State. However, he asked everyone to keep be on guard and to report any instances of drugs abuse to the concerned authorities. Advising the youths to shun all forms of addiction, Goswami said, “We all have to work in unison to make the society free from psychotropic substances and spurious liquor.”

 Additiol Deputy Commissioner Amalendu Roy said drugs and alcohol were social evils and must be shunned for peaceful and healthy living. Roy urged the youths, especially the school students, to spread the message of ‘say no to drugs and alcohol’ in their homes and neighbourhood to free society at large from the mece. The senior official appreciated the slew of initiatives taken by Superintendent Excise and his team to wean away scores of tea garden workers from illicit liquor. Roy underscored the need to organize more awareness programmes at schools, colleges, tea gardens and gaon panchayat level.

Class VI student Mehak Mazumder, while highlighting on drugs abuse and ill effects of alcohol, said they not only took a heavy toll on health but also polluted the environment. “Say no to drugs and alcohol. Say yes to healthy living,” said Mehak drawing loud cheers.

 Presiding over the meeting, Principal of Hailakandi Public HS School, Sirajul Islam Mazarbhuiya exhorted upon the students to stay away from drugs and alcohol mece. He asked them to take up the cudgel against all forms of addiction and to begin the battle right from their doorsteps.

 Aekhal GP president Choudhury Charan Gaur, DIPRO, Hailakandi, Sabir Nishat, Planning Officer, AH Laskar, retired teacher, RP Pandey, among others, spoke on the occasion. Excise Superintendent, M. Amarendra th spelled out the various programmes lined up to create awareness about ills of addiction.

 Organized by the District Excise Office and Anti Drug and Prohibition Committee, the meeting was also attended by members and former members of District Anti-Drug and Prohibition Committee, representatives of PRIs, NGOs, women organizations and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan.