Imphal, Jun 23: The Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE), a state-level network of drug users comprising community based groups of drug users all over the state was launched today at the Retreat House, Mantripukhri, Imphal.
Speaking at the launch function I. Hemochandra, Speaker, Manipur Legislative Assembly, Chairman of the Manipur Legislatures’ Forum on HIV and AIDS and Chief Guest of the function, said, “Drug use is a complex issue requiring intervention at various levels, involving people from different walks of life and organizations”.While partnership is vital it is equally important that community takes the lead, “Others should not take decision for you”, he added.
Nidhi Kesarwani, Project Director, Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS), while congratulating coming-together of the community in the form of a state-level network, said that for any intervention to be meaningful the effort has to come from within the community. “A common link is essential to identify best practices and region specific needs. The network will ensure this linkage, and will go a long way as it has emerged from within the community”.
Introducing the 365X6 initiative whose catch phrase is Facilitating Community Without Borders, Tom Thomas, Executive Director, PRAXIS, India, praised the community for its commitment towards community mobilization
“We firmly believe that communities need to come together and take the lead. Looking at the number of people gathered here I believe you will be able to take the process forward”. Drug users as a community need to come together and speak up against being stigmatized as one set of people, Thomas added.
R. Solomon, Member of Chui-mei-rin, a 37-member CBO of drug users in Kamjong who took part in the function said that, after Project ORCHID organised a detoxification camp in 2004 in Kamjong there has not been any such camps, neither does this sub-division in Ukhrul district have facilities for Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST).
Though a numbers of drug users in Kamjong and neighboring villages want to leave drugs they are helpless. 90 kilometers from Ukhrul headquarters a drug user from Kamjong has to stay in Ukhrul to access OST available at Care, Ukhrul.
“Not everybody can afford accommodation in Ukhrul to undergo OST or treatment in rehabilitation centers. I am hopeful that the network will address some of these issues”.
Highlighting the plight of drug users in Kakching, Gandhar, another participant added “There is a disconnect between the programme, the community (drug users) and the law enforcement agencies. While IDU programmes encourage use of fresh needle and syringes, drug users are harassed for carrying the same.” Gandhar, steering committee member coordinating the network formation, and a representative of Empowering Community Organisation (ECO), Kakching, is hopeful that the network will be able to address this and many other issues.
For a number of drug users like Henry in Saikul, a state-level network of drug users is a dream-come-true. Saikul has no Drop-in centers (DIC) for IDUs, neither there are rehabilitation centers to treat people who want to leave
drugs. Henry who started drugs in 1987 when he was in ninth standard has been able to stay away from drugs following self detoxification and treatment in rehabilitation centers in Imphal.
However, not every drug user has the strength and resources to undergo self detoxification and treatment in rehabilitation centers in other districts. “The network is a step towards ensuring that services reach each and every part of the state where it is needed”. Henry, Steering Committee Member, Saikul
Community mobilization among drug users is easier said than done. Stigma and discrimination, and harassment prevent people from coming into groups and speaking up about their rights and issues.
“Mobilisation is happening at the local level, as small community-based groups. However, it is essential for these groups to come together so that there is the requisite strength and the unity to address common issues like service access, hepatitis-C, stigma and discrimination etc”. RK. Nolinikanta, Convenor, Steering Committee.
Lack of services in remote areas of the state has been a major concern for the community. The OST centre and DIC at Kumbi has been set up to caters to the needs of drug users in neighboring villages like Borayangbi, Wangoo, Sagang and Thanga besides Kumbi.
However, distance and risk of encountering security personnel prevents them from accessing services provided in these places. “The network can be a platform through which we can ensure more service centers or increase number of people who can deliver services where it is needed”. Pangakpa Rajkumar, Steering Committee Member, and representative of Hope for All Foundation, Kumbi
Coordinating the 365 x 6 initiative in Manipur, Asem Jiten, said that 365x6 aims to enable drug users to demand and access services, generate resources and negotiate decisions for reducing risk and vulnerability to HIV and other issues of the community in a sustained manner.
Today, the communities of People who use drugs (PUD) are an important and integral part of the public health response towards drug use and HIV and AIDS programmes. Community groups in the state have begun to mobilize their collective voice to oversee programme and advocate with the government on issues related to their health and wellbeing. However, to ensure successful collectivization would require a state-level network of community with members from across districts.
This will provide a platform for communities to mobilize opinion, resources and support for sustaining community ownership of different initiatives across the state as well as get its interests and rights realized through advocacy with the state and society as a whole.
The decision to form a state-level network has been taken after assessing existing community based groups in the state as well as following recommendations of consultative meetings held in all districts of the state.
A 16-member state Advisory Committee including the Media, church, civil society organisations, academicians and other experts have guided the Consortium in building the network.
A 14-member steering committee comprising representatives of existing Community Based Groups (CBG) and Community Based Organisations (CBO) of drug users across the districts has been formed under the Advisory Committee to facilitate formation of the state-level network.
Some of the key findings of the district level consultations are harassment of drug users by law enforcement agencies and pressure groups and absence of a mechanism to respond to crisis situations, lack of Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) and the need to expand the existing programme, need for rights education and sensitization to avoid stigma and discrimination, and Female Injecting Drug Users (FIDU) who are still neglected and require special attention.
