Anti Drug Day Drive by Body Builders in Gangtok

Gangtok: On 26th June, to mark the Anti Drug Day, Sikkim State Body Building Association (SSBBA) organised its first ever unique rally with an aim of not just spreading awareness about drug abuse but to encourage the youth to stay fit for a healthy living.

More than 100 body builders and gym enthusiasts joined this rally. This saw representation from all age groups from young aspiring body builders from schools and colleges to veterans in this field. This procession was one of its first kind where all the participants took part in this procession with white inner vest and blue jeans. All participants were also seen wearing red ribbons to endorse the efforts of Sikkim Aids Society.

The Rally began at 11:00 am from Old Bansilal Petrol Pump via Titanic Park through Sadar Thana to Zero point, STNM Hospital and back to Bansilal Petrol Pump. The route was covered in approximately one hour and even heavy rains did not deter the enthusiasm of the participants.

General Secretary Anil Raj Rai, Treasurer C.B.Chhetri, Joint Secretary I.B.Gurung, Vice President Arun Gurung, Publicity Secretary Sunil Gurung, former Mr. Sikkim Pema Dorjee Bhutia & Suresh Chettri, representatives from various Gyms, Gym owners and Pharmaceutical companies were among the participants. C.B.Chhetri Treasurer SSBBA informed us of their plans of organising other health related activities like Power Lifting and Blood donation camp in the near future.

The Recovering Users Network (RUN) appeal to open rehab centre in Sikkim

Gangtok: 28th May:The Recovering Users Network (RUN) a non government organization has appealed the State Government to amend some sections of SADA 2006 during a press conference held on 27th May in the capital.

While addressing media advisor RUN Mr. KC Nema said that they have come forward open and straight to support the dreams and visions of the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling of make Sikkim a drug free state. Adding more Mr. Nema informed that Sikkim Anti Drug Act (SADA), 2006 is a step taken by the government to curb drug menace in the State and from the day of its enactment the act has served as an instrument towards the goal of a drug free State. RUN has however expressed their apprehension that some sections of SADA may not be quite at par with the intention of its enactment. Furthermore Mr. Nima stated that we want to support the state government in making

Sikkim a drug free state but the banned medicine are being manufactured in the state like N-10. According to SADA law culprit should be sent to rehabilitation centre where they should be provided with proper counseling as every culprit want to improve them selves, but there are no government rehabilitation centre in state whereby some culprit are unable to pay fees in private rehab centre which is also a factor contributing to the increased rate of drug addiction in the State.

Whereas Dr. Doma Bhutia in her address informed that drugs is becoming a major problem in the state and especially the youths are engaged in this life taking habit. Youth would bring changes any where but the Sikkimese youths are moving towards the wrong direction which needs to be addressed seriously said Dr. Doma. Many SADA case has been registered in state after implementing the SADA Act informed Dr. Doma. Adding further Dr. Doma informed that according to NDPS Act we have to give chance to every culprit those who are arrested under this case for rectification.

Dr. Doma further mentioned that our education system is job oriented and not value added and urged the gathering to address the root cause of the increase in drug addiction in state as well as education system.

The President of RUN Mr. Gyamso Tamang in his address said that imprisonment is not the solution to mitigate the increase in drug addiction in state and appealed the government for establishment of rehab centre and provide the addicted individual a chance to improve as many addicted youth wants to improve themselves but due to lack of government centre the addicted individual are unable to rectify themselves and in private centers most of them are unable to pay the fees.
(SikkimMail)

One Girl dies of drug overdose, another assaulted

GANGTOK, November 20: Nikki Sherpa (26) of Chalisey East Sikkim presently staying at Sichey Gangtok died yesterday due to drug overdose.
She has been reported brought dead at STNM Hospital. Police investigation revealed that the deceased lived with Roshan Chettri (28) of Melli, South Sikkim. Police also recovered 984 capsules of Spasmo Proxyvon from their room, after which Roshan was arrested.
Police have registered a case of unnatural death against the deceased while a case under section 9 of Sikkim Anti Drug Act 2006 was registered against Roshan.
In another case, one Tina Pradhan, wife of Ganesh Cintury, registered a complaint at Melli Police station stating that, Purna Kr Tamang of Kerabari village entered to her house complex with khukuri in his hand and cut the flowers of the complex before hitting on her husband’s stomach with khukuri. This incident had taken place on November 17 at around 7.45 pm.
The victim was admitted at Melli PHC and is under treatment. The Melli police has arrested the accused and registered a case against him under section 447/324/427 of IPC

Indian Psychiatric Society to hold conference in Sikkim on 'substance abuse and suicide'

Gangtok, Oct 7 (PTI) About 400 participants from across the country will deliberate on 'substance abuse and suicide' at the three-day national conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) from October nine.

Hosted by Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS) at Tadong, the delegates will dwell on various aspects of (drug) substance abuse and suicide from socio-economic and medical point of views, Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) Vice-Chancellor Brigadier (Rtd) SS Pabla said today.

The experts opinion on the twin vices will be relevant for Sikkim in particular, since the state has been dogged by the growth in the number of suicide cases over the years and its youths taking to abuse of banned substances.

Pabla said representative of government hospitals, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), NGOs, have been invited to attend the conference to update themselves about various initiatives at the social-medical level against suicide and drug addiction.

DRUGS WORTH RS 20, 000 SEIZED IN RANGPO

RANGPO, October 07: In a major crackdown on the menace of substance abuse that is continuingly plaguing the society, the Rangpo Police, on Saturday, seized a huge quantity of drugs.
According to the Police, Raju Silal, a resident of 6th Mile, Tadong and Bikram Chettri of Melli, Sikkim who were traveling in a Maruti Alto SK-04/5133 were apprehended by the Rangpo Police here. Acting on suspicion, when the Police checked the vehicle, they uncovered a booty of 3624 capsules of Spasmo-Proxivoron and 154 tablets of N-10. The duo were on their way from Melli to Singtam.
The market value of seized products is more then Rs 20,000, Police say.
Spasmo-proxivoron, which was purchased at about Rs 1 per capsule are sold at Rs 5 by the peddlers while N-10 tablets purchased at Rs. 2 and 20 paise per tablet are sold at Rs 10, Police say.
Although the State administration, specially the Sikkim Police, has been very persistent in its efforts to curb this menace, the supply of drugs, especially medical drugs like Spasmo-Proxivoron and N-10, which are widely used by addicts, continues.
The case has been registered against the two under section 22/27 of NDPS, 1985

Financial assistance to Combat illicit traffic in narcotic drugs

According to latest assessments, there are approximately 4million drug addicts in India. The actual figure may be higher. Themost common drugs of abuse are ganja, hashish, opium and heroin.The abuse of pharmaceutical preparations like buprenorphine,codeine based cough syrups and painkillers like proxivon has alsoassumed serious proportions
In certain regions of the country, drug abuse has alreadybecome a severe socio-economic problem with the potential to affect Indias future generation adversly. It has become necessary to strengthen state enforcement agencies. State governments are aware of the drug related problems in their state. and they can address themin an effective manner before they assume epidemic proportions. The strategies would include both supply reduction and demand reduction.Supply reduction would include enforcement activities while demand reduction would involve rehabilitation and de-addiction measures
Last year, Union Ministry of Home Affairs launched a scheme to finance state governments to strengthen enforcement capabilities for combating illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The Narcotics Control Bureau being the national nodal agencyfor drug administration supports requests from state governments for assistance for improving their enforcement capabilities in dealing with the supply side of the drug menace.

ELIGIBIITY
Assistance is provided only to those States which have established the following basic institutional arrangements prescribed by NCB for effective enforcement of anti narcotics laws:-
a) A Multi disciplinary level Coordination Committee under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary or a senior Secretary has to be established for regular interaction with various Central and State agencies including NCB for coordination and sharing of information and reviewing the drug situation in the state. The Coordination Committee may meet at regular intervals with a structured agenda on drug related matters.

b)The States should set up an Anti Narcotics Task Force under an IG level officer with duties and responsibilities dulydemarcated.
ACTION PLAN
The State should formalize an Action Plan to address narcotics related issues.The Action Plan should include, inter-alia,identification of regions, which are sensitive to drugs trafficking,requiring focused attention and strategy for action in these regions.The Action Plan should address both demand control and supplycontrol strategies.
During the financial year 2005-06, assistance was extended to the selected states totalling to a sum of Rs.1.3 crore for financial assistance to the States under the Scheme.
Out of this, assistance of approximately Rs.42.30 lakhs has been granted to the Sikkim through State nodal agency Excise Abkari Department who are entrusted to implement Action Plan in Sikkim on bahalf of Narcotic Control Bureau .
Sikkim has assumed a significant role in mapping of narcotic transhipments in view of its recently opened international border of Nathula.