Shillong, Mar 6: A training and sensitisation programme for Village Defence Party (VDP) members was conducted at Shnongrim village under the theme, “Ghar Ghar Mein Nyay Ki Jagriti.”
This initiative, led by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) of East Jaintia Hills, aims to empower local community members about drug abuse, legal rights of victims and the role of the community in preventing substance abuse and supporting rehabilitation efforts within the district
The event was organized in collaboration with the offices of the Superintendent of Police, the District Medical and Health Officer (DM&HO) and DAWN (Drug Awareness and Wellness Navigation) Unit.
Medical Officer in-charge Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) Centre Dr. J. Nongtdu spoke about the medical and psychological aspects of drug addiction. He also outlined strategies for addressing drug abuse, including supply reduction, demand reduction through awareness, and harm reduction initiatives such as Needle Syringe Exchange Programmes (NSEP), Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) Centres and Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Centres to manage diseases like HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis.
Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsel K. Challam explained the objectives of the DAWN Scheme, which focuses on assisting individuals affected by drug addiction through counselling, rehabilitation and skill development.
Challam also highlighted that drug victims also have fundamental rights, including the right to legal representation, and emphasized that everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty in the eyes of the law. She appealed to the community not to resort to violence against suspected drug users but instead to report such cases to the authorities.
Sub-Inspector of Umpleng Outpost DD Wajri emphasised the importance of community cooperation in combating the menace of drugs and urged residents to report drug users or dealers to the police instead of taking matters into their own hands.
