Imphal, Feb 03, 2025, IANS

Imphal, Feb 3 (IANS) Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Monday launched the ‘Addiction Free Manipur Campaign’ as the state government has continued the ‘War Against Drug Campaign’ for the past several years. The Governor launched the ‘Addiction Free Manipur Campaign’ at the Raj Bhavan which is being organised by Brahma Kumaris in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA)’, a flagship program of the Union Ministry. An official said that the campaign aims to tackle the problem of substance abuse across the state through awareness generation, mass mobilisation and community outreach targeting vulnerable groups and general masses. Launching the campaign at the Darbar Hall of Raj Bhavan, the Governor said that the issues of drug abuse and addiction is one of the many challenges that require community participation and collaboration between governmental and non-governmental organisations. He further stated that under NMBA, plans have been formulated to reduce drug abuse in the country. Saying that altogether 372 districts in the country have been covered, Bhalla, a former Home Secretary, stressed that prevention through awareness campaigns is crucial to tackling the problem effectively. The Governor commended the initiative taken up by Brahma Kumaris, stating that such efforts towards making India a drug-free nation are highly commendable. He urged everyone, particularly the youth, to support this movement, come together to combat the menace and contribute towards achieving a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047. Banarsilal Shah, Secretary, Medical Wing, Mt. Abu, Rajasthan, Swapan Gupta, Associate Professor of Neurology, GB Pant Institute, New Delhi, Prof. RK Lenin Singh, President, Indian Medical Association, Manipur state Branch and B.K. Nilima, In-charge of Brahma Kumaris, Manipur among others attended the program. Meanwhile, the state government since 2017 has been undertaking ‘War Against Drug Campaign’ and as part of the crusade, besides taking action against the drugs smuggling from Myanmar, various security forces in Manipur have been destroying illegal poppy cultivation in the state.