Former drug addicts in northern Shan State rehabilitated effectively: Union Minister Dr. Win Myat Aye

Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr. Win Myat Aye attended a meeting with departmental officials, civil society organisations, cultural groups and the public at the State Deputy head office of the General Administration Department in Lashio District, northern Shan State, yesterday morning.

At the meeting, the union minister said the government was striving to ensure the rule of law in the entire country, the development of socio-economic conditions, national reconciliation, internal peace and the establishment of a federal democracy union. The ministry is attempting to achieve peace, basic socio-economic development and equality in Shan State and other states, where many ethnic nationals live together. The ministry is cooperating and assessing the strengths of the departments, civil society organisations and the public. The ministry is in Lashio to assist and care for people displaced by armed conflicts, expectant mothers and children who need care, handicapped persons and women-led households. It is believed that such socio-economic assistance works will help socio-economic development, said the union minister. In this district, rehabilitation works, including the rehabilitation of former drug addicts, are being conducted by the ministry. Effective rehabilitation works will be conducted through livelihood courses, and the public is being urged to cooperate, said the union minister. At the meeting, donations worth Ks3 million for 10 ethnic national literature and culture groups, Ks3.3 million for people (from Lashio District, Kutkai, Namtu and Namhkam) displaced by armed conflicts, Ks2.2 million for expectant mothers, Ks15.4 million for children under five years, Ks5.4 million for the physically disabled, Ks6.25 million for women-led households and Ks300,000 for the Sinshweli home for the aged were accepted by the officials. Next, the union minister and his delegation inspected the rehabilitation camp of former drug addicts, where the camp manager explained the physical and moral rehabilitation work processes conducted for former drug addicts. The union minister mentioned the importance of ensuring that former drug addicts do not re-enter the vicious circle of drug addiction. He said volunteers were conducting community-based care programmes to engage with the relevant family members, and referred to the importance of the rule of law and security in resolving the difficulties faced by former drug addicts while re-entering the society, and especially, the importance of providing assistance to the family.

Later, the union minister met with the staff of the ministry at the district social welfare office and fulfilled their requirements.

To conduct systematically the rehabilitation of former drug addicts from northern Shan State and Lashio, Muse, Kyaukme and Laukkai districts, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement is conducting village-based rehabilitation works in all the districts and camp-based rehabilitation works in Laukkai District in the 2018-2019 fiscal year.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar