Pubdate: Mon, 31 Dec 2007
Source: Rising Nepal, The (Nepal)
Copyright: 2007 Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.nepalnews.com.np/trn.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3855

DRUG ADDICTS DREAM NEW LIFE AT BALAJU REHAB

Kathmandu - "Not only your life but ours, your family's and yours 
will improve if you stay here and kick the drug habit." This is how 
Shyam Man Shrestha exhorted his grandson Sachit at the rehabilitation 
centre set up at Balaju by the Maoist youth wing Young Communist League (YCL).

"My grandson has been here for 11 days and already there are marked 
changes in him," he said after the inaugural of the centre Sunday.

Several earlier attempts by the family to free the 19-year-old boy 
from his drug habit had failed.

The YCL cadres had caught him when he was using drugs and was brought 
to the centre. The family knew about it two days later. "When I learn 
about him being kept here we hope he will now get rid of drugs," the 
grandfather said.

Rajesh Adik, another habitual addict, read out a poem appealing all 
addicts to give up the killing habit and find a meaningful life.

Inaugurating the centre named Nawa Jeevan Griha Maoist central leader 
and YCL in-charge, Barsha Man pun 'Ananta' said the factors that 
induce youths into addiction must be checked. "Both the state and the 
society should bear responsibility for the youths' deviant 
behaviour," he said, adding, "Economic, political social and other 
factors that lead one into drugs must be solved if the problem is to 
be addressed."

He said that the centre was set up to curb drug trade and stop youths 
from its abuse. "A new and elegant society along with new Nepal can 
be built if the state identifies the causes of social evils and 
anomalies and solves them in time."

Ananta said that the establishment of the centre was a part of the 
YCL's campaign for national renaissance that started two months back. 
"The League has been focussing on the problem ridden sectors, like 
drug abuse, so that the attention of the state and other stakeholders 
is drawn towards it," he said. "We are not posing ourselves as 
solution givers, but only encouraging to find a solution."

He clarified that the League had improved a lot in its activities in 
the last two months as it started focusing on social evils. "But 
those who always are habituated to criticize us will find an excuse 
to do so taking examples of confiscating drugs and destroying them 
instead of giving to the police," he said pointing at the confiscated 
drugs, such as ampoules, ibobrufin, diazepam, Phenergon and others 
that were broken and buried.

Touching upon political issue he said that a new era had begun with 
the inscription of federal democratic in the interim constitution. 
"Now there will be a radical change in the security, administration, 
state structure, economic sectors as well as the mentality of the 
political parties."

Ananda Pun, chairman of Recovering Nepal, an NGO, working for the 
addicts, commended the YCL for taking the case of drug abuse and 
trying to give new life to the addicts.

He said that more than 60 organisations were affiliated to it and 
they all are being run by people, who had recovered and 
rehabilitated. "I myself was into drugs seven years ago, and ever 
since I have been working to free friends from this habit without any 
financial help from the government or others."

Clarifying that there was deep relation between HIV and drug abuse, 
he asked all the concerned to address psychosocial as well as 
emotional aspects of the users so that the problems are tackled and a 
solution is found.

Hitman Shakya 'Suman', Maoist Newa state committee in-charge, urged 
the youths to exercise self-discipline and stay away from all kinds 
of bad habits. "A new Nepal means eradication of all factors that 
lead youths to frustration and use of drugs."

Chandra Bahadur Thapa 'Sagar', YCL in-charge of the valley, said the 
supply of drugs and their users would be curbed within four months if 
it get cooperation from all sides.

At the programme, three persons involved in drug peddling were also 
included in the rehabilitation. There are 44 persons in the centre. 
According to YCL's record, there are about 70,000 drug abusers in 
Kathmandu Valley alone and 180,000 across the country. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake