In India’s battle against drug addiction, the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr Virendra Kumar on Thursday virtually inaugurated 5 in Tripura among 41 Addiction Treatment Facility Centres (ATFs) from Delhi.

The inauguration took place in the august presence of Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India Ramdas Athawale, Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, A Narayanaswamy, Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, Pratima Bhoumik and other dignitaries.

The five ATFs in Tripura include Modern Psychiatric Hospital at Narsingarh, Kherengbar Social Health Center at Khumulung, Gomati District Hospital, Dhalai District Hospital and Unakoti RGM Hospital. The centers are run by the AIIMS hospital in Delhi with 100 percent financial support by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.

Inaugurating the ATFs, the Union Minister Dr Kumar said that the positive energy of the youth of the country should be used for the welfare of their family, society and country. He said that a person affected by the bad habit of drug addiction also has a bad impact on the society and family.

Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Pratima Bhowmik urged people from all sections of the society to continue the all-out fight against drug addiction.

Chairman (in-charge) of Gomati Zilla Parishad Debal Debray, Chairperson of Udaipur Municipal Council Sheetal Chandra Majumder were present at the opening ceremony of the facility center at Gomti District Hospital. In Modern Psychiatric Hospital at Narsingarh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of West Tripura District Subhash Chandra Saha, HOD Dr. Dr. Swapan Chandra Burman, SPO (Mental Health) Udayan Majumdar and Nodal Officer of Addiction Treatment Facility Center Dr. Dipayan Sarkar were present. Besides, the executive member of the health department of ADC, Kamal Kallai, SDM of Jirania sub-division, Shantiranjan Chakma, and medical superintendent of Kherengbar CHC, were present at the Kherengbar social health center in Khulumung.