Addiction a huge challenge: Dr. Virendra

Noting that addiction has become a huge challenge, union minister, Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar on Saturday called upon all sections to work on war footing to eradicate the menace of substance addiction from the society.
The union minister made this statement, during his visit to Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCA), Prodigals’ Home at Fellowship Colony, Dimapur.
He asserted that addiction not only destroy families and relationships but also ruin the society. He said that addiction has also became huge issue and problem and even developed as well as developing countries also faced this challenge. The union minister therefore appealed to all sections and individuals to not only be aware of the harm of addiction but work on a war footing for the eradication of the addiction menace from the society. He also challenged the gathering to envision a society without any rehabilitation centres and work diligently and sincerely to achieve this vision.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, director of Prodigals’ Home, K. Ela, appealed to the ministry to provide IRCAs in all the districts of Nagaland for logistic as well as effective handling and control of addiction in the state. The director also advocated for setting up an all women IRCA in the state to cater to the women suffering from the disease of addiction.
Earlier, the programme began and concluded with the reciting of the ‘Serenity Prayer’ led by Sunep Jamir, Residential Counsellor.
The Union Minister was accompanied by Commissioner & Secretary, Department of Social Welfare, Director, Department of Social Welfare and other officials from the Dimapur district administration, and also officials from Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities (Divyangjan), Mumbai.