AMADA's Opium War attracts thousands

Imphal, December 18 : Premier show of the "Opium War" a Shumang Leela based on an event in China produce by the All Manipur Anti-Drug Association (AMADA) was staged at BOAT, Palace Compound this evening.

A function with Titular King Leishemba Sanajaoba as chief guest, president of the AMADA, M Padmini as president was held in which Chairwoman of the Imphal Municipal Council, M Ranisana and member of the Manipur Human Commission, Ng Nongyai attended as guests of honour.

As part of the function AMADA presented a sword (Khutsu Thanglen Thanglen to the king Sanajaoba and honoured director of the play "Opium War", Birjit Ngangomba, writer of the play, Jiten Ningthouja, lyric of the play and also editor of Meetei Mayek edition of Hueiyen Lanpao, Shiva Dutta Luwang, music director Jitenkumar Naorem and film maker Banka Sharma with gifts.

King Meidingu Leishemba Sanajaoba opening Opium War, a Shumang Lila played by Peace Maker Artistes' Association at BOAT

The Peace Maker Artiste Association played the leela and the show was sponsored by the Manipur Voluntary Health Association, Wangkhei and Kripa Society, RIMS Road.

While delivering key note address, general secretary, Ph Phony said in similar way that destroyed Chinese by opium, Manipur once shining among the states of the country is ruining day by day by drug.

Despite having government agencies to check and control drug trafficking and, the same could not be eliminated.

He also alleged that in the state, trafficking of drugs and other intoxicated items are doing by the leaders of the governance stating that many cases involving them had occurred in the state.

Recalling the Opium War in China in 19th century, there is fear that the same type of warfare is going on in the state too to eliminate young general and destroyed the society.

Sanajoaba, the chief guest of the function speaking on the occasion observed the leela will aware thousands of people gathering to watch the show that consumption of toxicant items is not a good one.

"Let's take a decision to eliminate intoxicant items from the soil of the state".

Editor of Hueiyen Lanpao (Meetei Mayek edition), M Shivadutta Luwang recalled that some time back, a film in video format called "Opium War" produced and since then, the work for production as leela started.

With the successful production of the play, it can be considered that the drive against intoxicant items in the state launched by AMADA is marching ahead with the support of the people.

He also called upon the gathering to go together in the drive keeping behind the differences of religion and community.

Dignitaries in the dais also talked on the evil of the consumption of intoxicant items expressing hope that the play staged today will help a lot in the awareness on the evil of the drugs and intoxicated items.

AMADA's balm to NC Hills victims

Imphal, April 11 : A joint relief team of All Manipur Anti-Drug Association and Zeliangrong Students' Union, Manipur yesterday distributed relief materials to the Zeliangrong villagers who fled North Cachar Hills district of Assam and have taken refuge in different parts of Tousem sub-division of Tamenglong district.

The displaced villagers belong to Zemei sub-tribe of the Zeliangrong community.

They fled North Cachar Hills district following outbreak of violent incidents and threat on their lives and started arriving at Tousem sub-division in last week March.

They are currently taking shelter at makeshift relief camps set up at different parts of the sub-division including Mandeu, Phaklong, Pumdam, Najakok villages, etc.

It is said that armed insurgent group of Dimasas which constitute 34 percent of the total population in North Cachar hills district, started targeting Zemei villagers for their alleged opposition to the demands of the insurgent group including renaming of the district as Dimahasaorzi, imposition of Inner Line Permit system among all the tribal people and 80 percent job reservation for the Dimasas.

Around 20 innocent Zemei villagers have been killed by the Dimasa outfit so far and social organisations of the Zeliangrong community based at Assam have already submitted a memorandum jointly highlighting the issues to the Union Home Minister.

The total number of Zeliangrong villagers who have fled North Cachar Hills district and taken refuge at various makeshift relief camps set up for them in different parts of Tousem sub-division is estimated to be over 600 but the relief team could not visit all the relief camps for distribution of the relief materials.

The relief team could only directly interacted with around 132 displaced villagers putting up at the relief camp set up at the old building of the primary health centre located at Tousem headquarters and at the relief camp of Mandeu village where around 160 displaced villagers are taking shelter.

Nonetheless, the relief materials for the rest of the displaced villagers staying in other relief camps were handed over through the Tousem Relief Camp Committee.

The relief materials provided include 100 mosquito nets, 250 blankets, 600 toothbrushes, 298 toothpastes, 260 soaps, 116 candles, 59 match boxes, 16 bags of rice each containing 50 kgs, 2 bags of salt and 2 tarpaulins.

Apart from the contribution from the Indian Red Cross Society, Imphal and FCS Department of the Government, AMADA had also reportedly contributed from its annual expenditure in arranging the relief materials.

During the visit, the relief team had also taken a medical team along with them for medical examination of the displaced villagers.

The required medicines have been provided by the Family Welfare, Health Directorate, TB Cell, Malaria Department and Prakasha Medico.

Interacting with mediapersons on the sideline of relief distribution, secretary in-charge of Tousem Relief Committee Agnis pointed out that Tousem sub-division is the most underdeveloped area of Tamenglong district and after the incident of Bamboo flowering that have ravaged all the food crops by the rodent, the difficulties of the people have become manifold.

Inspite of that they have welcomed the Zemei villagers who have fled North Cachar Hills district.

Expressing apprehension over the possible sanitation related problems and outbreak of diseases among the displaced villagers putting up in the makeshift relief camps, Agnis drew the attention of the authorities concerned for taking up necessary prevention measures.

Urging the Government of Manipur to ensure the security of the displaced villagers, he also called upon the Government of Assam for taking up necessary steps to bring peace and normalcy in North Cachar Hills district so that the displaced villagers could go back to their respective villages.

AMADA leaders assume onus

Imphal, February 17 : Newly elected officer bearers of the AMADA headquarters today took the charge formally from the outgoing ones in a function held at its office at Keishamthong Laishom Leirak.

The function which was presided by AMADA president L Tomba was attended by Titular king Sanajaoba as chief guest and RIMS superintendent Dr Y Mohen and MACS joint director Dr N Abhiram as guest of honours.

Titular king Sanajoaba also administered the oaths to the new office bearers.

He took oaths to Moirangthem Padmini as new vice president, Lourembam Krishnamohon as general secretary, Pheiroijam abe Chanu as assistant secretary, Laishram Naoton as finance secretary, Konjengbam Meghachandra as organization and co-ordination secretar, Yumnam ongbi Sundari as deputy secretary Kongrailakpam Hemabati as publicity and propaganda secretary of the of the AMADA headquarter.

Md Mehabub Ali was also administered as secretary drive committee, elangbam Debeshwori as deputy secretary,Khulem Sophia and Khangengbam ongib Memcha as secretary welfare, RK Bobi as social welfare, RK Boby as deputy secretary, Lairenlakpam ongbi Tombi, secretary human resource development, Ningthoujam Bobo as deputy, Akoijam Herojit as secretary youth affairs ans sports, Takhellambam Tembi as her deputy, Pukhrambam Jiban as secretary women affairs, Chingangbam Rita as deputy Ningthoujam ongi Ningboy Haokip and Arambam Kanhai as office secretary.

Speaking on the occasion, Sanajaoba expressed concern over the state of spree of killing and prevailing situation on the state where people are living in fear of what would happen in the next movement.

He said, AMADa is a social body which comes up at this juncture of trouble ridden state with the objective to save the youths of the society from the clutch of drug and intoxicated abuse.

Those men who drown into intoxicant material or addicted to drug could feel love for their motherland.

They have no sense of love for other, he said expressing the need for efforting to bring back those abusers to normal life to save the society.

AMADA-NGOs' meet

Imphal, Feb 13 : With a view to know the mode of services of the NGOs working in the field of HIV/AIDS the All Manipur Anti-Drug Association (AMADA) will hold meetings in three phases with the functionaries of the NGOs.

AMADA's social welfare secretary, RK Bobi said it in an interaction between media persons and volunteers of the association held in its office today.

He said, the association arrange the programme with a view to aware the people whether the services and treatments of the NGOs are satisfying by the people living with HIV/AIDS.

The meetings are to be held with the functionaries of the NGOs and running rehabilitation centres for the people affected by the HIV/AIDS and working with fund from different funding agencies from foreign, Centre and Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS) etc.

The first meeting will be held on February 18 with the NGOs working with the foreign funding, the second round of meeting with the NGOs working in the field under MACS on February 20 and the third round will be held on February 22 with the NGOs working under the Union ministry of social welfare, the secretary said.

The objective of the consultative meetings aims at going hand in hand between the NGOs with AMADA, the association which has been working with the objective of elimination of abuse of intoxicant items, he said.

AMADA's 3rd Anniversary Observed

Imphal, Dec 21 : The Third anniversary of All Manipur Anti Drug Association (AMADA) was celebrated with a grand function held at the ground of Ningthoukhong Boys' High School in Bishnupur district today.

Manipur assembly Speaker Dr S Budhichan-dra was the chief guest, MLA K Govindas, former Union Minister Th Chaoba, ex-MLA Dr M Nara and president of All Manipur Muslim Women Development Organisation (AM-DO) Anwari Noorjahan were guests of honour.

AMADA president L Tomba presided over the function of which the theme was "Let's save our identity from drugs" .

Laishram Ongbi Shila of Keishamthong Irom Pukhri Mapan, mother of Chinglenkhomba, who was mercilessly killed by a drug addict just for the two ear-rings he was wearing and Takhellambam Ongbi Ibechaobi of Singjamei Mayengbam Leikai, mother of Momocha, who was also brutally killed by a drug addict just for his two ear-rings, were special guests.

Speaker Dr S Budhichandra said, drugs like heroin (No.4) were being constantly smuggled into Manipur, which happened to be a border state, from Myanmar and other south east Asian countries.

All these drugs were destroying the youths of Manipur day by day.

Manipur is one of six states in India which have been most affected by drugs, and nearly 30% of the total population of Manipur were affected by HIV/AIDS, he said.

Pointing out that drugs and other intoxicants had destroyed the lives of a number of thoughtful youths, officers and talented sports persons, Dr Budhichadra affirmed that at such critical juncture, the AMADA came out with the pledge of protecting the society of Manipur which is quite timely.

He further said that drugs and other intoxicants can never be eradicated from Manipur just by punishing the drug sellers and users.

Launching awareness programmes on how much drugs and narcotic substances can destroy human life was out paramount importance, he said.

Th Chaoba said during the days of monarchy in Manipur, permission used to be given to a few particular places for brewing alcohol.

In those days, people of Manipur had never seen heroin (No.4), not to say of having heard even the name itself.

But after Manipur's merger with India, huge supply of drugs and other narcotic substances had been smuggled into Manipur.

The government has failed to stop brewing of liquor.

Now, most of the people of the state were addicted to alcohol, he said.

Chaoba further said that Manipur Liquors Prohibition Act, 1991 passed during RK Ranbir's period and which has not been amended till today allows certain Kabui villages to brew alcohol and supply of alcohol for the armed personnel from outside Manipur.

Because of these provisions in the Act, complete prohibition of alcohol in Manipur has not been able to be implemented.

When the movement of Nisha-bandh was active, prohibition of selling and consuming alcohol could be implemented to certain degree.

But since AFSPA 1958 was imposed in 1980 in Manipur, the movement of Nisha-bandh has turned towards fighting human rights violations by security forces.

Meanwhile, movement against alcohol had gradually died down, Chaoba said.

Dr M Nara said since the liquor prohibition Act has not been properly implemented in Manipur, AMADA took birth.

Just by fighting drugs and alcohol should not be the aim of AMADA.

Let AMADA also pay attention to the phenomenon of corruption prevailing in the state.

Let us also try to stop the candidates in Moirang by-election from wooing the electorate by scooping up alcohol from the tank and serving them.

Hueiyen News Service

AMADA aids HIV affected kids

IMPHAL, Dec 19 : In connection with its third foundation day celebration, All Manipur Anti-Drug Association (AMADA) today distributed nutritional supports and stationery items to children affected with HIV/AIDS apart from depositing an amount of Rs 10,000 in the bank as fixed deposit in the name of a child living with HIV/AIDS and whose parents too have died from the disease.

The places where the nutritional supports and stationery items were distributed including Hands for Peaceful Society (20 children), Manipur Network of Positive People (30 children), Care Foundation (30 children), Kripa Foundation (30 children) and Indian AIDS Consortium (20 children).

While expressing gratitude to AMADA for the nutritional supports provided to their children, the parents and other elderly family members of the children have regretted the failure of the State Government to come out with a policy for the HIV affected children population of the State.

The grandfather of a child orphaned by HIV/AIDS said it is very unfortunate that the Government has not been able to extend any nutritional and educational support to those children in the society whose both the parents or one of the parents have died from HIV/AIDS.

The little nutritional supports being received from the private funding agencies outside Manipur is not enough to meet the requirement of these children. Moreover, the support of these funding agencies is not being received every month and the nutritional support could not be given for many months as the fund is not released in time, the 70-year old grandfather who is staying along with his grandson at Kripa Society informed.

Talking to mediapersons at the occasion of distributing the nutritional support and stationary items, human resource secretary of AMADA Bobo said that we should give up the habit of depending on outside funding agencies and try to be promote self reliant and mutual support.

After the end of their respective projects, these funding agencies would also stop providing the nutritional support and educational support being given to our children earlier.

Moreover, when the fund is not released in time, there is the problem of ensuring the nutritional and educational support of the children. So we should pool together whatever resources we have and work toward combating the problem of HIV/AIDS with sincerity.

He further explained that the distribution of the nutritional support as well as the fixed deposit amount of Rs 10,000 in the bank has been made possible with the income earned from selling the Ningol Blue Excel detergent powder manufactured by a group of women who have been affected by HIV/AIDS.