HT Bureau
NAMSAI, Oct 10: The Drug-Free Village Campaign in Namsai district has gathered pace with a series of awareness and outreach programmes launched across three Gram Panchayats — Nampong 1 GP, Dadum Jona GP, and Nanam Khamyang GP.
The initiative aims to promote substance abuse prevention and build community-driven mechanisms for achieving drug-free villages.
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As part of the campaign, 18 community volunteers were identified and trained to carry out baseline, midline, and final assessments, along with conducting awareness drives and community engagement activities.
These volunteers have been entrusted with the responsibility of working closely with local communities to identify at-risk households and implement preventive strategies against substance use.
A training and orientation programme for the volunteers was held in the presence of the Assistant Commissioner, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, and the Superintendent of Tax and Excise, who also serves as the District Nodal Officer for Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, along with the District Programme Lead of Piramal Foundation, Namsai.
The dignitaries motivated the participants to dedicate themselves to the cause and to act as catalysts for change within their respective communities.
During the session, the volunteers were trained in data collection techniques, community engagement methods, and identification of vulnerable households affected by substance abuse.
They were also equipped with the necessary skills to coordinate awareness activities and sustain local-level interventions beyond the campaign period.
Following the training, the volunteers conducted baseline assessments in all three Gram Panchayats to understand the extent of substance use, assess local challenges, and identify potential intervention areas.
Based on their findings, a series of awareness activities were held through village meetings, door-to-door campaigns, and interactive sessions with youth groups, Self Help Groups (SHGs), and students.
The campaign also ensured close coordination with Panchayati Raj representatives, ASHAs, Anganwadi Workers, and teachers, thereby enhancing community participation and ownership of the initiative.
Regular debriefing sessions were organised to review progress, share field insights, and plan the subsequent phases of the campaign.
The initiative has received enthusiastic support from local leaders and residents, who have lauded the efforts of the district administration and the participating volunteers. Officials noted that the convergence of multiple departments, coupled with strong grassroots participation, has significantly strengthened the Drug-Free Village Campaign in Namsai District, paving the way for a more sustained and community-driven approach to tackling substance abuse.
