The Dread That Haunts Mothers, Especially - Drug Addiction

Last few days big and small hauls of drugs are seized by the police department. The market price runs into crores in most of the cases. It frightens and upsets readers. If drugs in such a huge quantity make it to the city, then what could be the number of customers? Very scary picture! The condition of the young boys and girls who get lured or walk into the trap voluntarily, makes all shuddered. Addiction gives rise to many grave consequences too.

Recently a video of two girls who were found to be almost oblivious of being filmed is making rounds, both seem to be in a trance (the word chosen for the state of a person after consuming drugs). The girls were totally under the influence of drugs, probably many must have witnessed it. Many were very upset as their faces were not blurred, this certainly is a valid point, but the focal point need not be missed. The threat of drugs looms large in our city too.


This reminded me of a mother activist Jaya ji Tasug Moyong, who is a part of an organisation WASE (Women Against Social Evil) from Arunachal Pradesh. This group of mothers is fighting a fierce battle against the menace of drug addiction. They are courageously fighting despite threats, and danger caused by their activities. Initially, all the administrative systems were not probably in the supporting role, but their persistence won the support of many systems.

Their struggle started with the agony of mothers when it was observed that even the young children and teenagers gradually turned to drugs, it was robbing them of their precious gift, their children.

They started a fierce battle against evil with a resolve to conquer.

When it comes to her children, a mother can go to any extent to safeguard them. The battle may be protracted, the number of enemies may be huge and some may not be even known, probably there won't be much support, and victory may be far-fetched but the swords are drawn. Women have resolved to fight against social evils, specially against drug addiction.

Any mother would never allow anyone to harm her child. She protects her child even at the cost of her life. If she has to protect her child, she can fight with all her might against any enemy. She can even put her life in danger if that saves her child.

Jaya Tasung Moyong who works with the group WASE, is from Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh. When she was awarded Baya Karve Puraskar by Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Sanstha, expressed her agony and her resolve to fight. She was talking about drug addiction. She described how a large number of young children are addicted and how mothers feel the pain and are anguished. How the next generation is being spoiled and it made all mothers to join the battle. When there was a threat to their children, mothers couldn't sit back.

Right from illiterate mothers to educated and working mothers came together to save their children.

Young school-going students too seem to have fallen into the trap. The people who sell essential things like clothes, and vegetables provide drugs. They speak the local language fluently, and use local names, making the job of identifying them difficult. All the government agencies too are working on this problem. But mothers feel it is their right to fight the battle to save their children. Being a mother it is their birthright to save children and secure their future.

She described a situation where mothers wait for their sons or daughters for dinner. By 5 pm the sun sets and gradually all the activities stop. Mother cooks the dinner and waits at the table for her child. She waits for a long time, and finally calls the child to get the answer 'reaching in few minutes '. It is past midnight, sometimes there is the sound of a vehicle nearing the home. With the hope, she rushes to open the door. But the sound trail passes by the home and fades away, there is no sign of the child. Her heart aches but her cry doesn't wake up the child from the slumber of drugs. Her wait doesn't end before dawn or morning. It frustrates many mothers but they have come together to save their most precious gift now.

This is a group of women who belong to the Adi tribe mainly. Initially, it was a difficult task. But after some time all started helping them. They have some suggestions for the schools. Submitted a memorandum to the government of Arunachal Pradesh too.

They expect the National Cadet Corps ( NCC) unit ought to be in every school. It would inculcate the spirit of nationalism which would give an aim, a noble cause to achieve to the youth. Yoga too should be taught in all schools, which helps keep the mind calm and the body healthy.

Our education system needs to introduce many such measures into the system. An aim in life gets a focused mind and does not leave any space for thoughts like drugs. Children naturally are busy acquiring the skills required for the aim they wish to realize. There ought to be opportunities made available to school-going children which would acquaint them with the reality of many problems faced by our society. Children should be taught that they need to help people around and deal with the issues of society.

Even students of professional courses that is higher education too should think that education is not only for earning a livelihood, they owe a lot to the society they belong to. All the stakeholders need to work together to eradicate such evils. Parents, teachers, and students all should interact and be a part of this battle, we cannot just be mute spectators.