DIMAPUR — The Department of Social Welfare launched online competitions, comprising creative writing, poster making, and reel making, on substance abuse prevention on Monday during a programme held at the conference hall of the Directorate of Social Welfare in Kohima.
Director of Social Welfare, Tosheli Zhimomi, speaking on the occasion, stated that Nagaland is grappling with the menace of substance abuse, with hundreds of young people having fallen victim.
According to a DIPR report, she mentioned that the state government has declared a war on drugs and that the department has initiated various programmes as primary prevention measures and has actively communicated the message on the harmful effects of substance abuse to various groups of people.
Zhimomi expressed her delight at the launch of the competitions in commemoration of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. These competitions specifically target the age group of 13 to 25 years, which is considered the most susceptible to the dangers of substance abuse.
She further expressed optimism that a significant number of young people would register for the competition. She believed that their critical thinking and creative writing skills would contribute to educating the public about the dangers of substance abuse.
Briefing the gathering, Deputy Director of Social Welfare, Wango Langsym, informed that in Nagaland alone, there are more than 6 lakh substance abusers, including about 37,000 children and 17,000 females.
The programme was attended by Miss Northeast 2023, Kenei Ritse; Miss Nagaland 2023, Neiketuno Sechű; and Miss Nagaland 2022, Hikali Achumi, who also addressed the gathering.
One can check the official Instagram handle of the Social Welfare department for more details: @socialwelfare_ngl8.