Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights convened a stakeholder meeting for dialogue on the Joint Action Plan on Prevention of Substance Abuse among Children on 25th June 2021 on the eve of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Those participated in the meeting included District Magistrate (DM) (North Goa & South Goa), Superintendent of Police (SP) (North Goa & South Goa), Superintendent of Police, Narcotics Control Bureau, Goa Zone, District Excise OfficerDistrict Education Officer (DEO);Child Welfare Police Officer;District Child Protection Unit, Child Welfare Committees (CWC);District Social Welfare Officers, Chief Medical Officer and District Drugs Control Authority.
Keeping in view the issue of drugs and substance abuse among children,strategic actions, interventions, responsible authorities and timeline have been identified, and are being projected here, for convergent action by the enforcement agencies, monitoring bodies and the service providers, said Peter F. Borges, Chairperson, Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
He noted that the problem of substance abuse is increasing and requires a broad stakeholder participation for prevention and treatment. Some of the key prevention strategies included highlighted included:
1) Sales of liquor in surrounding areas of Educational Institutions including coaching centers for children – Circulars to ensure that there should not be any liquor shop nearby school. – State of UP & Ors Vs. Manoj Kumar Dwivedi & Ors AIR 2008 SCW 1912
2) Ensure that FIR is registered against the person under Section 77 of Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 who violates the law.
3) Creating enabling provisions to ensure the banning sales of liquor, in surrounding areas of Schools – Inclusion of a provision for recognition/affiliation of a school to ensure there is no liquor shop within the prescribed distance near the school premises and an undertaking from schools by State Education Department before giving recognition.
4) Circulars to ensure that there should not be any shop selling Biddies/ Cigarettes, Gutkha and other tobacco products within 100 meters radius of the Schools/Institutions by as per Section (6) of the COTPA 2003.
5) Put notice/ display boards prominently at public places like- malls, airports, provision stores, hotels, eateries where liquor and tobacco stores are available should be out of reach of children and penal provision as per section 77 and Rule 56 of JJ Act 2015 & Rules 2016
6) Creating provision/mechanism for early detection of substance use among Children (Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK).
7) Separate or exclusive De-addiction and rehabilitation facilities for children with drugs and Substance use by Department of Social Welfare.
8) Mapping of children in street situations using drugs and substances & Producing before Child Welfare Committee (CWC) by the Childline for keeping them into fit facility for counselling, treatment and rehabilitation
9) Orientation of Parents & Teachers to understand the psychology of the adolescents and children so that they will be able to cope/help them in their emotional crisis to prevent any drugs dependency.
10) Awareness Generation Programmes in School/Colleges and Educational Institutions involving students/ teachers/ SMCs/ PTA/ NCC and NSS volunteers.
11) Taxation and Excise – Should be seen from public health angle, rather than economic. Pricing for alcohol products is such that it should be more expensive to consume high concentration beverages as compared to low.
He emphasized that more work needs to be done in primary prevention, including public awareness and provision of expertise and facilities for rehabilitation. He reiterated the role of research and generating evidence to ensure that need based interventions are implemented for drug demand reduction in the state.
Apart from few health facilities managing substance use disorders the state does not have a programme to attend to substance use disorders, although there are scattered NGOs supporting the communities in different aspects of the problem including health education, support programs for quitting, brief interventions, as well as treatment of substance use disorders, he further said.
Several speakers from government and NGOs shared their experiences. The sharing focused on the need, the gap and the heavy cost required to tackle substance use disorders and the necessity to engage government and NGOs in the quest to find a solution to substance use problems.
Human Touch Foundation engaging in substance abuse prevention programme shared about various initiatives under Yes to Life Campaign which is the largest intervention in substance abuse focusing on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, which included interventions in educational institutions an communities and strong families initiative which is launched to offer family support groups for the loved ones of individuals in substance abuse treatment and recovery.
Shrikant Banerjee from Kripa Foundation informed that there are two rehabilitation centres of Kripa Foundation. He further informed that they got 28 cases of substance abuse over 2 years. He said that the person becomes victim of substance abuse when he gets addicted to drug 4-5 years. He further said that we need to look at the cases evidence base and focus on research on drug problems in Goa. Dat dey have rehab centre for adults. If there receive cases of children they refer to Asilo or GMC. He also mentioned there is need to open child rehabilitation center for children of drug abuse.
During the open discussion there were suggestion from the Child Welfare Committee there should be rehabilitation centre for the drug addicted children.
From the Railway Police Force suggestion was that there should be awareness programmes on Railway station as most of the children found on railway are run away from home and get involved in drug abuse.
Personnel from Health Department suggested there should be preventive measures for drug abuse.
Human Touch Foundation suggested that Excise department should monitor where bars are established within 100 meters in the vicinity of school. More vacancies of Counsellors of mental health should be advertised to help children who become victim of drug abuse due to negative coping.
Kripa Foundation suggested that the subject of drug abuse should be a part of education curriculum.
Education Department suggested that awareness needs to be in public placed also. The drug abuse matter should be included in the EVS subject. Visual presentation should be presented in the school. It was also suggested to present the matter of drug abuse during assembly of the school.
From the Health Department it was informed that in co-ordination with the Education Department training regarding drug abuse was given to the teachers. The teachers had to give talk of one hour to the students. Also they informed that there is YUVA Clinics in every Primary Health Centre wherein a child with drug abuse can be referred.
Pradnya Desai Member of the GSCPCR suggested there should be focus on comprehensive plan of drug abuse.
Adv. Balaji S. Mayekar of the GSCPCR suggested that all the stakeholders should co-ordinate and work together for the proper implementation of various laws.
Mr. Peter F. Borges, Chairperson, GSCPCR informed that the commission has to give quarterly report to NCPCR and therefore all stakeholders should work together to implement the joint action plan prepared by NCPCR and Narcotic Bureau Plan
