NGO TASK FORCE TO CHECK ABUSE AT DOS

Imphal, Dec. 23: Revellers in Manipur will celebrate this Christmas
and New Year's eve without booze or drugs, if an NGO leading the
fight against substance abuse has its way. Merrymaking with drugs
and alcohol is very much a part of the festivities. But this
will soon be a thing of the past.

All Manipur Anti-Drug Association, an NGO fighting against drug
abuse and alcoholism, today announced that it would not allow
revellers to get intoxicated during the celebrations. "We have
constituted a special task force to check drug abuse and drinking,"
the deputy secretary of the anti-abuse committee, T. Tembi Leima, said.

The task force to be led by the committee's secretary, K.
Meghachandra, will work in coordination with local women as well as
youth clubs to check substance abuse.

Picnics at Sekmai riverbank in Imphal West and Leimram waterfall in
Bishnupur district had been a part of the youngsters' entertainment.
But the youths will have to go without the banned items this time.
"We will put up check posts at Sekmai and Leimram to ensure that the
picnickers do not carry drugs or alcohol," another leader of the NGO said.

Sekmai has the finest breweries of local countrymade liquor and is a
favourite picnic spot.

Every year, Imphal organises a two-day concert called "The Great Two
Nights" beginning December 31. Booze and drugs have been banned
there too. "We will deploy our volunteers at the venues to ensure
that no one spoils the fun," Leima said.

The NGO, however, said they would not have any objection to singing
and dancing. Leima appealed to the parents as well as the local
women organisations and youth clubs to intensify the vigil against
substance abuse during the festive season. The organisation warned
that if anyone was caught taking drugs or alcohol, punitive measures
would be taken, and the punishment could be as severe as handing
over to the parents or spouses after severe beating.