Campaign against drugs in Guwahati

Assam Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi recently launched an anti-drug campaign — Mukti: Up for Hope, Down for Dope — initiated by RAC Guwahati Luit, RID 3240. The campaign is to create awareness and educate the youth against drug abuse. “We are planning to take the message to at least 10,000 youngsters and provide positive counselling through seminars, street plays, art and music,” said DRRE Tushar Jalan, who is also the charter president of the club.

The year-long project involves visits to colleges by a team comprising a psychologist, psychiatrist and a motivational speaker put together by the club. The project is part-funded by its Chairman Shivam Saraf who is also the Joint Secretary of the club and the balance is collectively borne by other members. The programme is initiated in memory of Shivam Saraf’s grandfather, Justice B P Saraf, who was a Judge of the Guwahati High Court and also former Chief Justice, J&K High Court.

The menace of drug abuse is one of the most challenging issues we face today. Your thoughtful efforts will encourage the society to fight it.
– Jagdish Mukhi, Governor of Assam

Eminent jurists, police officers and educationists attended the event.

“The menace of drug abuse is one of the most challenging issues we face today. It has wide-ranging impact on the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities, as well as on the security and sustainable development of nations,” said Governor Mukhi, addressing over 400 college students at the event. He appreciated the club’s efforts for initiating the campaign. “Your thoughtful efforts will encourage the society to fight drug abuse,” he said and urged the government agencies to check the availability of drugs so that the youth do not have access to them. He spelt out the responsibilities of the government, police and the judiciary. The government should work to combat the menace; the police should take measures to curb drug-dealers and the judiciary must take up cases related to drug-abuse on priority, he added.

The governor extended a call to the parents to spend quality time with their children, and create an environment conducive for them to discuss any issue without hesitation. “Parents must be alert to read the behaviour of their children so that any untoward behaviour can be addressed at its germination itself.”

It is not enough to rehabilitate the victims, they should also be given ample opportunity to get into the mainstream.
– DRR Elect Tushar Jalan

Jalan appealed to the government through the governor for proper measures to be adopted to take care of street children and orphans who are at a high risk of drug-addiction and stressed on the need for stringent action against drug peddlars. “It is not enough to rehabilitate the victims, they should also be given ample opportunity to get into the mainstream,” he said.