In a bold move to tackle the drug menace from its roots, the Meghalaya government is launching a transformative initiative to train over 100 teachers as school counsellors within ten months, targeting students from Classes II to V. This is part of a larger multi-pronged mission to curb drug use in the state, announced Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh during a press briefing on Friday.
“We have adopted a multi-pronged approach which is bearing results today as I indicated to you last time that the addiction rate has gone down by about 20 percent but this does not mean that we rest on our laurels,” said Lyngdoh, reaffirming the government’s commitment to intensify its fight against narcotics.
“One of the major initiatives that we have adopted today is that we will start by catering and addressing this menace from the embryonic stage meaning we do not allow, we make efforts not to allow our young teens to be fascinated to take drugs,” he added.
The Department of Social Welfare, through its flagship DREAM mission, has partnered with Sanker Centre for Neurology and Mental Health to train schoolteachers in counselling. “We are not going for a course, which Sanker is already running, where teachers will be trained in counselling students, young children from classes II to V, where they will be impressed with the need to stay free from substance abuse,” Lyngdoh stated.
The training course costs ₹10,000, and the state government will subsidize 50 percent of the fee. “That’s a major initiative that government funding teachers, who will act as a counsellor in addressing – as we can’t have all school children gathered in one place, so we will train teachers who will act as counsellors in the respective schools for which government is funding 50 percent of the course fee,” he said.
Reinforcing the campaign’s reach, Lyngdoh also confirmed a new partnership with Shillong Lajong FC to engage youth and amplify awareness on destigmatisation. “We are also in constant touch with faith-based institutions, also with the Meghalaya Users Forum. They are in constant touch with our mission director and also community leaders, youth groups, NGOs have been interacting with the mission director on a regular basis, the themes of which include destigmatisation, decriminalisation, legal awareness and youth engagement spaces,” he said.
The mission doesn’t stop at awareness. The department is simultaneously boosting vocational and skill development to rehabilitate and empower recovering addicts. “We have found that this is a very successful model when it comes to weaning away those who have fallen prey into addiction, so training sessions have been conducted at New Hope Deaddiction Centre, both for males and female addicts. We are also collaborating with MSSDS, Don Bosco, ITIs, and we are offering courses in plumbing, food processing, mobile repair, photography,” Lyngdoh added.
Francis Kharshiing, Director of DREAM, said that schools are being encouraged to nominate teachers. “The course is only for 10 teachers for one month. It will increase. In 10 months, we will train over 100 teachers. The idea is that these trained teachers can influence the children.”
With this sweeping initiative combining early intervention, education, community engagement, and skill training, Meghalaya is setting a model for holistic drug prevention and youth empowerment.
