Examinations can prove crucial to doing well in life, from getting into a good college or university, securing a government job or other white collar employment but the pressure to succeed can drive those who fail towards illegal narcotics.
This was the warning of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP), Law and Order, Vivek Syiem, who told an awareness programme in Umphyrnai yesterday that there are other avenues for youngsters who do not succeed in book learning.
Exams are not the only parameter to judge youngsters’ potential and encouraging them in other fields is important so that they do not lose interest and develop a sense of hopelessness.
“There are many areas where you can excel in. This is the time when you should enjoy but if someone rebukes you this will lead to depression and lose hope, which will lead the youths to wrong friends,” Syiem said at the programme organised by the Umphyrnai Village Defence Party (VDP).
Syiem said that a few years ago only a few areas were affected by the menace of drugs but today this problem has spread all over the state. He also said that most people feel that their own family members will not fall prey to narcotics but this is naive as it could happen to anyone. Syiem therefore urged parents to take responsibility to be close to their children.
He also said that parents should encourage their children to take up sports or any other platform that will strengthen their minds so that they are distracted away from drugs.
Syiem also cautioned those present against cyber crimes and cautioned parents when giving mobile phones to their children.
The VDP should be the first responders to any situation arising within their jurisdiction and need to be apprised of information that will help tackle the trade in narcotics, he added.
Meanwhile, the officer in charge of Madanrting police station, P Lamare, said that areas falling under his jurisdiction have registered various cases of mob lynching, in which precious lives have been lost.
Lamare said that mere superstition of being a menshoshnoh has led to mob lynching. The police cannot often react in time, so it is the responsibility of the VDP and other village leaders to make citizens aware and prevent the spread of rumours, verify identities of those in lynch mobs and immediately contact police and/or magistrates without delay.
Lamare also said that areas under Madanrting police station also have a number of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cases. He said that this could be due to the villagers not knowing that sexual activity under 18 years of age is an offence.
