Gangtok:30th June: A day long program on review of the Sikkim Anti Drugs Act (SADA) 2006 with special reference to women’s Rehabilitation and reintegration was organized by Sikkim State Commission for Women in collaboration with National Commission for Women on 30th June at Mini Hall, Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok.
Delivering the opening remarks, Chairperson of the Sikkim State Commission for Women, Smt. Tan Doma Bhutia, said the primary objective of organising the review meeting was to critically examine the provisions of the Sikkim Anti-Drugs Act (SADA), 2006 l.
She further expressed hope that the deliberations would contribute to meaningful policy interventions and strengthen collaborative efforts towards addressing drug abuse while ensuring dignity and social reintegration for women in recovery.
The program was attended by the District and Sessions Judge Shri. Jagat Bahadur Rai, District and Sessions Court, Special Division II, High Court of Sikkim, Shri. Tashi Rapten Barfungpa, Senior Advocate, High Court of Sikkim, Shri. Tenzing Loden Lepcha (IPS), DIG Range Gangtok, Shri. Satish Rasaily, Incharge, Centre for Addiction Medicine, Chiwatar, East Sikkim, Shri. Mahesh Sharma, Additional Director, Nodal Officer, Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA), Social Welfare Department, Honorable Chairperson of Sikkim State Commission for Women Smt. Tan Doma Bhutia, Member Secretary of Sikkim State Commission for Women Smt. Yousa Lachenpa, Dr. Sonam Ongmu Lasopa, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Health and Family Welfare, Shri. Raju Nepali, Duars Express Mail, West Bengal, Shri. Tenzing Jigdal Khangsarpa, Member, Child Welfare Committee, Gangtok, Shri. Nirmal Mangar, Senior Journalist, Sikkim Chronicles, Representatives from Sikkim State Legal Services Authority, Law Department, Police Headquarters, Crime Branch, HUB WCSCDWD, Anti Human Trafficking Unit, Interns of Law and Sikkim State Commission for Women, Incharge and Presidents of various Rehabilitation Centres across Sikkim like Freedom NGO Tathangchen headed by Shri. KC Nima, Jeewan Marg Society, Sanjeevani Rehab Society, Jagriti Rehabilitation Centre, Samaritan Rehab, Divine Detoxification Centre, Mangan Rehabilitation Centre, Serenity Home, Grace Rehabilitation Centre, Recovering Users Network, Sikkim Drug Users Forum, President and Vice President of ICFAI University, President of Sanchaman Limboo Government College Gyalshing, Interns of Law Department, Interns of Sikkim State Commission for Women, Members and Staff of Sikkim State Commission for Women.
Shri. Tashi Rapten Barfungpa, Sr. Advocate highlighted on salient features of Sikkim Anti Drugs Act 2006, limitations and discrepancies of the Act. He highlighted on setting structured framework and amendment of the Act.
Shri. Tenzing Loden Lepcha, DIG highlighted on the problems of drug abuse, perspective from law and enforcement agency on drug menace and drug scenario in the State of Sikkim. He further highlighted on various types of drug abuse in the State, trends in drug related offense, role of police and enforcement agencies, preventive strategies and inter agency coordination, features of NDPS and SADA Act 2006 with regard to enforcement derivatives, gender specific rehabilitation and reintegration procedures for women drug abusers in the State of Sikkim.
Dr. Satish Rasaily, Incharge, Centre for Addiction Medicine, Chiwatar briefly highlighted on the challenges of women drug abusers in the State. He highlighted upon the social stigma associated with women drug abusers, lack of family support to women drug abusers, psychiatric disorders associated with female drug abusers, less number of enrolment of women drug abusers in rehabilitation center and encouraged homely and safe environment center catering to the sensitive needs and vulnerabilities of female drug abuser. He said that drug abuse is bio-psycho-socio disease and stressed on gender specific rehabilitation and reintegration program of women drug abusers.
Shri. Mahesh Sharma, Additional Director, Nodal Officer, Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, Social Welfare Department highlighted on various schemes with regard to drug de addiction program in the State of Sikkim. He highlighted National Action Plan on Drug Demand Reduction scheme, Sahayogi Scheme launched by Government of Sikkim in the year 2024, Member representatives under Sahayogi Scheme involving Government employees, pilot rogram launched at Namphing Village under Anonymous Reporting and finally stressed on creation of Juvenile Drug De Addiction in the State of Sikkim and girl drug abusers back into society.
Shri. Jagat Bahadur Rai, Learned District and Sessions Judge, Special Division- II, High Court of Sikkim gave insights on the legal framework of the Sikkim Anti-Drugs Act 2006 and highlighted on challenges of the Judiciary with regard to drug crimes in the state of Sikkim. He elaborated and necessitated upon effective rehabilitation and reintegration of women drug abusers with formation of dedicative standard operating procedures following humanistic approach, Anti Drug Policy formation, punitive procedures, social justice and social reintegration of women drug abusers.
In-charge of various Rehabilitation Centers across the State, gave insightful deliberations with regard to women rehabilitation and reintegration in the State focusing upon formation of women centric rehabilitation center, stigmatization of women drug users, challenges and issues faced by the Rehabilitation Centers in the State, necessity upon amendment of the Act in a larger scale and encouraged voicing out of Rehabilitation Centre across in policy formulation initiatives of the Government.
Earlier the welcome address and the grief outline of the consultation was presented by the Member Secretary Yousa Lachenpa.
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