Kanchanpur College Hosts Anti-Drug Awareness Programme, Calls for Collective Action to Build a Drug-Free Generation

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, November 13, 2026

Emphasising the urgent need for sustained community participation in preventing drug abuse and protecting the younger generation, the Mizoram Social Defence and Rehabilitation Board (MSD&RB), in collaboration with the Social and Economic Development Committee (SEDC), Jampui, organised an awareness programme at Government Degree College, Kanchanpur, under the national NASHA MUKT initiative.

The programme assumed particular significance as it sought to sensitise college students, young people and the wider community about the devastating consequences of drug addiction and the importance of collective efforts to build a drug-free society. With drug abuse posing a serious challenge to public health, family relationships, education and social stability, such awareness initiatives are increasingly important in preventing young people from falling into the trap of substance abuse.

Lalfinpuia Tochhawng, Project Director of SEDC, and Lalhnehzova, Senior Counsellor, attended the programme as resource persons and interacted with the students on different aspects of drug abuse, its harmful consequences and the importance of prevention, awareness and community-based intervention.

Addressing the gathering, Lalfinpuia Tochhawng stressed that creating a drug-free generation cannot be the responsibility of any single organisation or government department. Rather, every individual, family, educational institution and community must play an active role in protecting young people from substance abuse. He appreciated the collective efforts and cooperation of different stakeholders, which, he said, had helped ensure that no new cases of drug abuse were reported in certain parts of Tripura and the Jampui Hills over the past three years.

He described this development as an encouraging indication that sustained community participation, awareness campaigns and collective vigilance could produce meaningful results in the fight against drugs. He expressed optimism that a new generation free from drug addiction was beginning to emerge, while emphasising the need to maintain these efforts with greater commitment and consistency.

Principal of Government Degree College, Dr. Suman Adhikari, highlighted the far-reaching consequences of drug addiction, observing that its impact extends well beyond the individual and can destroy families, damage social relationships and ultimately weaken the foundations of society. He urged students to remain conscious of the dangers of substance abuse and make responsible choices throughout their lives.

Dr. Adhikari also extended his full support to the initiatives undertaken by SEDC and stressed that educational institutions have a particularly important responsibility in shaping the attitudes, values and behaviour of young people. He called for unity, continued cooperation and sustained collective action to make the campaign against drugs successful.

Lalthannguri Sailo, a faculty member of Government Degree College, also addressed the students, focusing on the importance of responsible decision-making during the formative years of life. She cautioned that a single wrong decision could have lifelong consequences and encouraged students to lead their lives with courage, responsibility, awareness and careful consideration. She urged the younger generation to come together from today itself to build a safer, healthier and brighter future.

An additional attraction of the programme was a musical performance by Baby, the popular 11-year-old child singer from Sabual, Jampui, who entertained the gathering with her singing.

The programme highlighted the importance of taking the anti-drug campaign beyond official announcements and occasional awareness meetings. Colleges, schools, village organisations, parents, youth groups and local communities need to work together to identify risks, discourage drug use, encourage early intervention and support those struggling with addiction.

The reported absence of new drug abuse cases in certain areas over the past three years, as highlighted by the SEDC Project Director, offers an encouraging example of what coordinated community action can achieve. However, sustaining such progress will require continuous vigilance, counselling facilities, rehabilitation support and meaningful engagement with young people.

The Kanchanpur programme thus served not merely as an awareness event but also as a reminder that protecting the younger generation from drugs is a shared social responsibility. A drug-free society cannot be created through enforcement alone; it requires awareness, education, family support, community solidarity and the active participation of the youth themselves.

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