Gangtok Hosts Awareness Session on Women’s Empowerment and Drug Abuse Prevention

Gangtok, Sikkim – On August 5, Gangtok hosted an impactful awareness session organized by Hub Empowerment for Women, addressing the ‘Nasha Mukht Bharat’ initiative, women’s skill development, and the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign. Held at the DAC Hall, the event was spearheaded by Manikala Gurung, SWO from the Women & Child Development Department, and included key figures such as IAS Tushar Nikhare, District Collector of Gangtok, Suman Gurung from the skills department, High Court Advocate Gulsan Lama, and Assistant Collector Sandeep Kumar.

Manikala Gurung opened the session with a welcome address, outlining the objectives of the meeting. IAS Tushar Nikhare stressed the importance of education in empowering women to positively impact their families and communities, and addressed the critical issue of youth drug abuse in Sikkim, calling for a united effort to address the problem.

Gurung highlighted the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ scheme, aimed at addressing gender discrimination and improving the Child Sex Ratio (CSR). Suman Gurung provided details on various skill development programs offered by the state government, including training in bakery, pickle making, tailoring, and specialized courses for educated women in spa therapy and air hostess training.

Gulsan Lama discussed the ‘Nasha Mukht Bharat’ initiative by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, focusing on anti-drug measures. He explained the penalties under the Anti-Drug Act, including fines and imprisonment for drug-related offenses, with stricter penalties for government employees and students.

The session, attended by a diverse group of women from Gangtok, highlighted the government’s dedication to advancing women’s rights and combating drug abuse.