Odisha CM Congratulates Lariapali Sarpanch for getting Drug Addiction Free Panchayat Award

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KalingaTV News Network

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday congratulated Sarpanch of Lariapali Panchayat of Bamara block in Sambalpur district on being awarded as Drug Addiction Free Panchayat by Government of India.

Patnaik met Lariapali Sarpanch Shukri Kujur at the state secretariat and congratulated him for the achievement. Later, taking to his twitter handle the CM said, “Congratulated Sarpanch of Lariapali Panchayat of Bamara block in Sambalpur district on being awarded as #DrugAddictionFree Panchayat by Government of India. An example in how sincere efforts at grassroot level can effectively transform lives. Urge others to take up similar goals.”

Lariappali Gram Panchayat was nominated among top 10 village Panchayats for the national awards for outstanding services in the field of prevention of alcoholism and substance (Drug) abuse, 2018.

Lariapali, a tribal village which is situated 98 km from Sambalpur, was poverty and addiction-stricken. Most of them depended on rain fed farming and forest produce for their livelihood.

According to a survey carried out by Bharat Nirman Volunteers, out of 1,101 households surveyed, 720 had admitted alcohol addicts and 811 admitted cannabis, tobacco and other substance addicts.

However, some Art of Living volunteers with the total support of Kujur and under his leadership mobilized the locals and organised awareness drives and behavioral training workshops, following which the village became alcohol and drug addiction-free recently.

A Self Help Group run by ten women went door to door to check if someone is selling illicit liquor. They imposed fine on them at a rate of Rs 5,000 for the first time and Rs 10,000 for second time offenders.

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