The Chief Guest of the function Smt.Smita Kapse, the first lady of the Islands, in her key note address delved upon the harmful effects of alcoholism. Alcoholism was not only damaging an individuals health but was also making him a socially and psychologically sick. The family problems, marital discontent, child neglect, poverty were the major outcome of alcoholism. Increasing number of suicides, road accidents was also due to alcoholism. She further invited ladies to come forward and join hands together to remove this problem as in most of the cases the ladies were the main suffers.

During the presentation, the Director of ‘Muktangan’ Dr.Anil Awachat explained about the organization and how it was giving a new life to the addicted people. Contrary to general belief that the addicts are treated as a patient, he elaborated that for 2-3 days, some of the addicts required some medical attention and after that they started a routine life in the premises of Muktangan. 90% of the volunteers running the centre were the addicts who not only gave up drugs and alcohol but set an example for the other addicts to follow. To cure the addicts several indoor and outdoor activities like music therapy, laughter therapy, yoga, games, gymnasium activities were used. Irrespective of their background all the indoor mates were equally participative and they used to manage themselves, the day to day activities of Muktangan from the reception to the kitchen as well.

Speaking on the occasion Shri.R.P.Pal, Secretary, Social Welfare promised to extend all out support for establishing the de-addiction-cum-sounselling camp. The Director of Health Services, Dr.Namita Ali emphasized upon the medical problems associated with alcoholism. Many of the patients treated in the hospital for different symptoms had alcohol as its root cause. She further said that G.B.Pant Hospital was fully equipped with the facility and infrastructure to deal with any such addict who required additional medical attention. The gathering was also addressed by Smt.I.B.Rani, ASP, South Andaman and Shri.Ashok Sharma, Director of Industries. During interactive session, the gathering came out with several questions related to the problems they were facing in the society, regarding the brewing of liquor in house holds and the means to stop it.

Many of the NGOs, Social workers and voluntary organizations showed keen interest in organizing the camp and volunteered in making the society free of such addiction.

The meeting concluded with the vote of thanks by the Nodal Officer and the DySP(Traffic) Harendra Kumar Singh.

MUKTANGAN VISITS THE ‘ANGAN’ OF A & N POLICE

Director of Muktangan Dr.Anil Awachat and the Project Coordinator Ms.Sadhavi Salunke interacted with the personnel of A&N Police at Drill Hall, Police Lines, Port Blair.

Since police personnel were not only the responsible citizens of the society, they were also entrusted with the responsibility of others citizens, they had the dual role to play in making the society free of alcoholism.

The Director of Muktangan Dr.Anil Awachat narrated his experience of Maharashtra where some of the police personnel were alcoholic and were declared deserters, because of their absenteeism. But Muktangan was able to help them come over their addictions and they were absorbed in their job again. There were several other instances also when police officers and other respectable people needed treatment at Muktangan and they led their life as normal people free from their egos and were able to correct themselves.

Speaking on the occasion Ms.Sadhavi Salunke, the Project Coordinator of ‘Muktangan’ explained to the police personnel as to how they can influence the people in giving up alcoholism. Being the disciplined lieutenants of the society, police can perform better than any other agencies in eradicating this menace. She shared her experience of working with police personnel’s and said that ‘Muktangan’ had more positive results when working in coordination with Police Department.

A & N POLICE TAKES THE HELP OF NGO TO ERADICATE ALCOHOLISM

A&N Islands Police is going to unfold a new chapter in the history of A&N Islands where “Alternative Therapy” is going to be one of the main course of policing. The problems in the society are not going to be seen as law and order and security problem only, rather the socio economic and psychological factors behind such problems will also be given due importance.

In the A&N Islands, alcoholism is one such major problem. Although, the legal action taken against the violators of the law has shown a steep increase in the last five years, but it has not shown the desired impact on the society because, hitherto, actions were taken only against those selling liquor illegally, but now the victims of alcoholism will also be the target groups. The victims of alcoholism will now have an escape route to recover and lead a healthy life. To achieve these goals, it has been decided to organize De-addiction-cum-counseling Camp in Port Blair, involving NGOs who have been running de-addiction centre and have been helpful in tackling these problems. One NGO “Muktangan” based at Pune has been a pioneer in the field of eradicating alcoholism. On the request of A&N Police the Director of “Muktangan” Dr. Dr. Anil Awachat alongwith the project coordinator Ms.Sadhavi Salunke will be interacting with various agencies of the A & N Islands during their visit from 21/4/04 to 24/4/04 to help in setting up the De-addiction-cum-counseling camp in Port Blair which could be run in coming days with the help of NGOs and Socialbodies.

Lt.GOVERNOR CALLS FOR CONCERTED EFFORT TO WIPE OUT ALCOHOLISM

The Lt.Governor, Prof. Ram Kapse today made a fervent call for a concerted effort by all section of the society to root out the menace of alcoholism from the Islands. The NGOs must come forward and work towards combating alcoholism, he started while addressing the function on presentation on ‘Alcoholism and De-addiction’ by Muktangan, an NGO based at Pune, at the Conference Hall of Megapode Nest here this afternoon.

The Lt.Governor observed that in order to do away with alcoholism one must go into the root cause and ponder into the issue more seriously and influence the people to give up this scourge. Punitive action alone cannot help solve the problem, he added. The Lt. Governor also assured full cooperation from the Administration to those NGOs working with the aim to wipe out alcoholism from the Islands.

Dr. Anil Awachat, Director of Muktangan explained at length the role of the organisation in changing the life of the addicted people. He said that a large number of volunteers running the centre were the addicts who have given up addiction and now generating awareness among others about the ill-effects of addiction.

Dr. Anil Awachat further stressed that excise was one of the major revenue generating resources, so it was futile to except from the Govt. to do something about the alcoholism. Therefore, people have to come forward to alleviate this menace. It was the people’s zeal and power which could remove alcoholism from the society. It was a long way to go to achieve this goal but at least a beginning has been achieved in A&N Islands, he observed.

Ms.Sadhavi Salunke, Project Coordinator, Muktangan made detail presentation about Muktangan. She said addicts were not treated as patients rather as ‘Mitra’ where group therapy, work therapy, gymnasium activities, creative therapy, story telling, music and laughter therapy were the ‘Mantras’ of curing them of their addiction.

An interactive session was also held in which several queries relating the problems of addiction were answered by Dr. Anil Awachat.