PROGRAMMES UNDERTAKEN BY STATE ANTI-DRUGS & PROHIBITION COUNCIL, ASSAM TO CREATE AWARENESS AMONG THE PUBLIC PARTICULARLY AMONG THE YOUTH.
The State Anti-Drugs and Prohibition Council, Assam has been formed in July 1974 under three different Prohibition Act, with a view to implement Prohibition Policy of the Government. Since inception the Council is doing its level best to build up public opinion and general awareness against the harmful effects of alcohol and drugs.
The responsibilities entrusted, the Council has set up a network of Prohibition Committees in each sub-division with 20 (Zonal Prohibition Organizers) 14 ( Honorary Prohibition Organizers ) non-officials for effective prohibition work including propaganda to create public awareness for prevention of Alcohol and Drugs. The Superintendent of Excise in Sadar Head Quarter and the Deputy Superintendent of Excise in Sub-divisional Head Quarter are working as Ex-Officio Secretary. To widen the base of prohibition activities and for effective propaganda, the Prohibition Organizers have undertaken programmes in consultation with the Mahkuma Prohibition Committee by involving the Students and Youths Community, Women Organisations, Tea Workers Associations, Panchayats, NGO’s etc.
To enlighten the masses about the harmful effects of alcohol and drugs as well as to create awareness among the people, and particularly the Students, Youth and Women and for that matter, the entire population for better quality of life, the Council has been publishing of distributing booklets, leaflets, pamphlets, poster etc. in different languages. Besides this, the Council has distributed various types of leaflets, folders, posters, calendars on prevention of Alcohol and Drugs Abuse and De-addiction Programme. Public meetings seminars, group discussions, processions with banners and slogans on prohibition and competitions in essay writing, story writing and poems composing on prohibitions theme have been organized to arouse public opinion against the harmful effects of Alcohol and Drugs Abuse. Educative cinema shows organized at different places particularly in rural and tea garden areas by the Council’s cinema units. Hoarding Boards have been installed at few important locations portraying the evil effects of alcohol and drug abuse.
With a view to mobilize public opinion and awareness for prevention of Alcohol and drugs, advertisements are published in news papers, leading journals magazines etc.
A quarterly magazines ‘’Puberun’’ (earlier it was Janakalyan) is being published since. It contains articles written in English, Assamese, Bengali , Bodo and also in dialects of tea garden workers.
The Council has been observing prohibition Day every year on 30th January synchronizing with the death anniversary of the Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi throughout the State by holding public meetings, seminars , processions, cinema shows etc with a view to mobilize public awareness against alcohol and drug abuse.
The Council has been observing the 26th June every year ‘’The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking’ by organizing meetings, processions among the people particularly the Students, Youths, Women Organizations, NGO’s etc. at different places across the State.
The Council has been functioning two De-addiction cum Rehabilitation Centres-one at Jorhat and other at Silchar since June 2000 under the scheme for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drugs) Abuse with the financial assistance of the Govt. of India. The response during the years were satisfactory.