Manipur State Commission for the Schedule Tribe chairperson Thuigai Mathieu Rongmei said students who are the pillars of the nation should be aware that changing topography and deforestation, especially in hill districts, is adding to global warming.
The chairperson was speaking on the sideline of ‘One day Awareness Programme on Environment and Tribal People and impact of Drug Abuse’ held at Centenary Hall, Manipur University on Tuesday.
He said with the changing of topography in hill areas, the climatic condition has been changing. If the awareness is given, especially to the students of hill areas, then deforestation could be decreased, he added.
Manipur State Commission for Women member Tara Manchin Hangzo said nearly 70 per cent of the land in Manipur are hills and most of the drug abusers are reported from hill areas like Churachandpur, Ukhrul and others. Using illegal drugs could affect the society and the state economically, socially and psychologically, she added.
Hanzo said to root out illegal poppy cultivation under ‘War on Drugs’, the present government is also taking various initiatives. With a desire to spread awareness by the commission towards the society, the awareness programme is being organised in order to reduce the number of drug abusers and to save the environment by discouraging the poppy cultivation in hill areas, she said.
Vice chairman of Manipur University, professor N Lokendro Singh also attended the function as special guest. As a part of the awareness programme, lecturer, IGNTU, Immanuel Varte and 360 collective co-ordinator delivered speeches on “Environment and Tribal People” and “Impact of Drug Abuse” respectively.
