Reported by Avik Chakraborty: A peaceful awareness rally was held in Chakma Basti‑I in Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh, on Tuesday to protest rising drug abuse, opium (kani) addiction and illegal cultivation, and to spotlight the related threats of child trafficking and early child marriage. Youths, women’s groups, village leaders and residents from Chakma Basti‑I, II and III took part in the programme aimed at raising awareness and strengthening community responsibility to protect children and families.
Gaon Burah Sushil Chakma told the gathering he was deeply concerned about the growing impact of drugs. He said addiction was destroying the lives of young boys and girls, leading to broken families, financial hardship, health problems, crime and even death, and urged the community to remain vigilant and work together to stop drug peddling in the area.
Speaking on opium (kani) addiction and illegal cultivation, Uttam Chakma, a local community leader, warned that the problem was spreading rapidly in nearby regions. He said opium addiction weakens the younger generation both physically and mentally, hurts productivity and work culture, and can lead to legal consequences. He appealed for public cooperation with authorities to eliminate illegal opium cultivation.
Bipin Roshan Chakma, general secretary of APCYA, highlighted a growing threat of child trafficking in rural communities, saying children are often lured away with false promises of work and later forced into unsafe, exploitative situations. He stressed that protecting children must be a top priority for every villager.
Champa Chakma, president of the Mahila Samiti, urged mothers and women’s groups to remain alert to prevent underage marriages. She warned that early marriage robs girls of education, exposes them to health risks and raises the likelihood of domestic violence and social insecurity.
Speakers and participants said rising addiction is destroying families and pushing some parents to send children away as domestic helpers under economic pressure. They warned that family conflict, separation and violence were becoming more common while traffickers exploit false employment offers to target vulnerable children.
Organisers clarified the rally targeted harmful habits and illegal activities, not any individual. Participants pledged to bar drug peddlers from the village, oppose opium addiction, protect children from trafficking, support families affected by addiction, and cooperate fully with administration and police. The programme ended with a renewed commitment to keep Chakma Basti safe, healthy and drug‑free for future generations.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/north-east-news/arunachal-pradesh/arunachals-changlang-residents-rally-against-drug-abuse-opium-and-child-trafficking.html
Category: Arunachal,Northeast News,Top News
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Publish Date: 2026-05-19 23:14:00
