The Department of Social Welfare has launched an online competition on substance abuse prevention on Monday, DIPR informed. The online competition will be conducted under three categories: creative writing, poster making and reel making.

Speaking at the programme, held at the Conference Hall, Directorate of Social Welfare, Kohima, Director, Social Welfare, Tosheli Zhimomi stated that hundreds of young people in Nagaland have fallen victims to the menace of substance abuse. She said that the State Government has declared war on drugs and that the Department has taken up various programs as a measure of primary prevention and has reached out to various groups of people with the message on ill effects of substance abuse.

Zhimomi expressed her delight at the launch of the Creative Writing, Poster Making, and Reel Making online competitions in commemoration of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which targets the 13 to 25-year-old age group, which is the most susceptible group to the dangers of substance abuse. She further expressed her optimism that a large number of young people would register for this competition and that their critical thinking and creative writing would aid in educating the public about the dangers of substance usage.

Briefing the gathering, Deputy Director, Social Welfare, Wango Langsym informed that in Nagaland alone, there are more than six lakhs substance-abusers, in which thirty-seven thousand are children and seventeen thousand are female.

The programme was graced by Miss Northeast 2023, Kenei Ritse; Miss Nagaland 2023, Neiketuno Sechű and Miss Nagaland 2022, Hikali Achumi where they also addressed the gathering.

One can check the official handle of the Social Welfare Department on Instagram @ socialwelfare_ngl8 for more details, it has been informed.