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Programme for chemical abusers |
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"Parents don’t bother what their children are doing", says doctor |
YUVRAJ DAHAL
 Gangtok: A day long awareness
programme for the chemical abusers and general public was held at Burtuk, East Sikkim on February 5. Sikkim
Youth Welfare Association (SYWA) organized the programme according to its “mission” to make people aware about
ill effects of drugs and alcohol. Psychiatrist, STNM Hospital, Dr. CL Pradhan, Mr. JK Limboo, Zonal Director,
Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK), Social Activist and Advocate Dr. Doma and Bhupal Subba were Resource Persons. Rabin
Rai, SYWA President and Pratima Subba, Secretary, former Zilla Adhaksya Mr. Bikash Rai were present, besides
local youths.
“About 50-60% families are alcoholic in our state”, Dr. Pradhan said and added, “parents do not bother what
their children are doing”. Merely helping them economically and letting them free is not the care needed by a
child. Charity begins at home and nothing can substitute parents. Due to high expectation of parents from
their wards, lack of family coordination, inability to cope up with socio-economic problems, one opts for
“relaxable” items and slowly becomes a victim of it, he said.
Dr. Pradhan also mentioned various other conditions like family disputes, environment and alcoholism by
parents that can lead a child to be separated emotionally from family. Unemployment is another factor that
traps even educated youths. Record shows that age group of abusers is below 40 years of age, he noted.
He pointed out, this threat is seen equally in both boys and girls. He said, Government and health department
are active here. A 20-bed de-addiction centre is being run at STNM hospital with all facilities. Proper
counseling is given to every patient at de- addiction centres in every district. Increasing number of HIV/AIDS
patients in the hill is mainly because of drug addiction. He cautioned saying, withdrawal syndrome can cause
suicide and even murder.
Dr. Pradhan said, it is disappointing that only a few come to hospital for counseling despite regular flow of
information through newspapers, radio and FM. He informed, we guarantee an effective and free treatment.
Whoever have visited us, they have never practiced it again, he told. Under the plans of the department, we
will soon visit every school of the state with the beginning of the session. Informing the symptoms of an
abusers behavioral changes, loss of weight, early exist from home and developing the habit of staying away at
night are seen in an abuser. It is sad that only a few people come to us . He further urged mainly the parents
to be aware about their children to keep them away from this poison which not only destroy life of its user
but kills mercilessly.
JK limbo said, every individual has a divine entity inside that makes a dacoit Balmiki. Human body is a
beautiful gift of god we have to preserve it . without objective of life and living and purpose of the life
must be fixed. Dr. Doma said, sending some peddler behind the bar is not a solution. Awareness and proper care
can help in eradicating this practice. Mr. Rabin Rai, Bikash Rai and Bhupal Subba also spoke on the occasion.
Youths interacted with Dr. Pradhan at the end. |
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Security preparedness discussed in meeting |
STAFF REPORTER
Gangtok: A meeting to discuss the formation of district specific Standard Operation Procedure for handling
terrorist and extremist attacks in preparedness for any eventuality, was held in the conference hall of
District Administrative Centre (East), at Gangtok Friday. The East District Committee For Terrorist/Extremist
Attacks (D.I.C.T.A.) comprised of the District Magistrate (East) as the Chairman, Superintendent of Police
(East) as Convener, CMO East/Medical Superintendent, STNM, Col. G.S. of 17th Mountain Division, Commandant,
ITBP and BRTF stationed at Gangtok, Divisional Engineer (East) UD & HD, Div. Engineer (East) Roads and
Bridges, Div. Engineer (East) Energy and Power, DIO(East), NIC, and IPR Department, District Civil Supplies
Official(East), Deputy General Manager(BSNL), Chief Fire Officer (GTK), as Members.
Mr. D. Anandan chairing the meeting apprised the newly constituted committee members on the role of D.I.C.T.A.
and urged the community members to take up their roles seriously so that, if need arises, implementable
contingency plan to counter terrorist attacks should be readily available at the field level. (With IPR input) |
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Quality accreditation for State govt run schools
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New Delhi: In an effort to improve standard of education across the country, the Quality Council of India (QCI)
will approach state governments for providing accreditation to all schools functioning under them.
The programme aims at giving a certificate to schools on the basis of quality of education, good classrooms,
standardised teaching, recreational space, its buses and overall hygiene for the students in the premises.As a
pilot project, QCI has contacted five state governments -- Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu
and Kerala-- to help it in accrediting schools.
"We want to make a common standard in all schools, especially the ones run by the state government or local
bodies.
It will help in raising the quality of education and develop children," said Dr Giridhar J Gyani, Secretary
General, QCI. The council has already given accreditation to eight NDMC-run schools in the capital. QCI has
also approached the Human Resources and Development Ministry to issue regulation for its school accreditation
programme.
"We have given a representation to HRD minister Kapil Sibal and requestd him to frame guidelines and make
regulations for it," Gyani said. (Agencies) |
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