https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Fighting Drug Abuse with e-Books in a Remote Corner of Nagaland

Drug abuse was rising alarmingly among the youth of Tuensang in Nagaland. To counter it, SP Tuensang, Vishal Chauhan, started ‘Operation Sarvodaya’. Libraries housing books, as well as tablets, are being made available for the youth, to channelize their energy towards reading and the internet.
Indian Masterminds Stories

One of the oldest districts of Nagaland, Tuensang, is not like any other district in the country. Although it has a predominantly rural population of two lakhs, the literacy rate is 73%! This is despite the fact that the area does not even have proper learning centres. 

However, the absence of study centres also means there is a lack of places for the youth to focus their energy on. This led to a lot of them channelizing their youthful energy towards destructive ends for short-term pleasures like drugs. To check this trend and motivate the youngsters to focus on studies rather than on drugs, Superintendent of Police, Tuensang, Vishal Chauhan, IPS, and his team launched ‘Operation Sarvodaya.’ 

In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, the officer shared details about the initiative and how it is helping to wean away the youth of the district from drug addiction.

ABOUT OPERATION SARVODAYA

Drug abuse among the youth is often also the result of underlying frustration and a feeling of inadequacy. Anti-social elements take advantage of this to spread and expand their network by luring the youths towards the consumption of various illegal substances. The addicts often take to committing petty crimes to source money to fund their addiction. This leads to a vicious cycle. 

Under such circumstances, ‘Operation Sarvodaya’ was conceptualized by the Tuensang police, as part of a bigger strategy to curb the spread of drugs. Under this operation, the police focus on the reduction of the demand and supply of narcotic substances while simultaneously providing an attractive alternative to the affected youth. 

“We realized that in this part of the country, the infrastructure and the reach of learning materials and sources are very poor. Once the students complete their class 10, they have to move out of their homes and go to the capital Kohima or the commercial capital Dimapur, for further studies. To bridge that gap and to provide access to the best education to the youth sitting in the remotest areas, we decided to launch libraries under the project,” Mr. Chauhan told Indian Masterminds.

CENTRES FOR LEARNING

The lack of study resources was one thing, and the lack of information technology was another. The youths of the district were witnessing the spread of information technology elsewhere and bemoaning its absence in their area. So, Mr. Chauhan decided to provide them with a metropolitan-level education so that in no way, they should feel left out.

In this regard, he planned to set up a library in a two-fold mode. The first being physical hardcopy books that were arranged from New Delhi, targeting competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC), MBA, SSB, CDS, CRPF, Bank PO, JEE, NEET, etc. The second fold was digital. 

“We have already built three centers of learning. The other four are underway and will be furnished soon. Our second fold is to provide them with digital literacy and access as well. For this purpose, we have set up one computer in each center along with a printer, so that in case students wish to study from the internet and take notes, they can use this facility,” shared Mr. Chauhan.

DIGITIZING LIBRARIES

Furthermore, the libraries also have four tablets in which over 1500 books have been downloaded for reading purposes. These books range from general knowledge to self-help, literature, fiction, non-fiction books, etc. 

Apart from reading resources, the tablets also contain video lectures related to multiple subjects from famous professors, that are available on the internet and on various other platforms. 

“The lectures have been downloaded and pre-loaded on all the tablets so that the youngsters do not suffer because of the remoteness of their location,” Mr. Chauhan told Indian Masterminds.

PROVIDING CAREER COUNSELLING

The libraries can be accessed by one and all, without any restrictions. A special governing board has been formed for the libraries comprising not only police personnel but also people from civil societies and also learning enthusiasts. 

“Along with all of this, we have also provided a career counseling and guiding chart for the youngsters because, in our part of the country, the knowledge and exposure on various career options and progression is very limited. The career guidance chart might help youngsters in this regard,” Mr. Chauhan said.

He is also planning to conduct orientation programs for young kids in the region. He will do so to directly speak with prospective candidates and understand the career path that they have planned for themselves after moving out of school so that he can help them with the available options.

The overall motto behind launching ‘Operation Sarvodaya’ is to curb the menace of drug abuse in youngsters which is ruining their lives. Due to the lack of proper educational infrastructure and the limited options available for studying, the youth of the district were resorting to drug usage, which will hopefully be curbed by the officer’s project, while simultaneously guiding these young minds toward a successful future.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
MDL_Mazagaon_ltd
Veni Thapar Appointed as Independent Director on Board of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd.
NTPC Green Energy Ltd NGEL
NGEL Gives 378MW Wind Energy Project to Suzlon Energy Ltd
Vikram Dev Dutt IAS
Coal Secy Vikram Dev Dutt Highlights Visionary RSR Model at Stakeholder Meet on Sustainable Coal Transport
ITI Limited
S. Jeyanthi Gets Extension as Director (HR) of ITI Limited - Know About Her
Punjab_govt_resized
6 IAS Officers Reshuffled in Punjab, Rajiv Prashar Made Secy, Punjab State Human Rights Commission
Orissa Minerals Development Company Limited - OMDC
Dr Sarasu T N Re-appointed as Non-Official Director on the Board of OMDC
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services (IAS)
IAS Officer Avinash Pathak Transferred from Beed Amid Controversy
NTPC
NTPC and Evren Sign PPA for 300 MW of Firm and Dispatchable Renewable Energy
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
E-Rickshaw Chaos, Waterlogging, Traffic Mess — Can Noida Fix Its Daily Chaos? | Exclusive with Dr Lokesh M, IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
This Collector Finds Happiness In Squeaks Of Children With Hearing Impairment Who Start Hearing After Surgery
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-23 at 17.08
Two Births in Two Weeks: How Malavika G Nair Delivered Her Baby And Her UPSC Dreams
Just 14 days after giving birth, Malavika G Nair cradled her newborn in one arm and a UPSC answer sheet...
Komal Punia UPSC 2024 AIR 6
Komal Punia: The IPS Officer Who Pursued Her IAS Dream & Conquered UPSC With AIR 6 | Exclusive
Komal Punia, a trainee IPS officer from Saharanpur, UP, overcame challenges and self-doubt to secure...
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-22 at 21.00
AIR-11, Ettaboyina Sai Shivani: The Girl Who Quietly Dreamt, and Loudly Delivered in UPSC CSE 2024
At 24, Ettaboyina Sai Shivani from Warangal cracked UPSC 2024 with AIR 11—no coaching, no shortcuts....
Social Media
GozJlgrXYAAHoKv
Murals for Cleanliness: Thoothukudi District Launches Art-Inspired Sanitation Drive in Panchayats
Local artists add colour and messages to village walls, promoting hygiene and community pride
Himanshu Nagpal IAS
Varanasi's Beggar Rehabilitation Initiative Recognised by UIDAI, CDO Himanshu Nagpal Shares the News
Mr. Himanshu Nagpal is a 2019-batch IAS officer
IAS Vaishali Chopra
Young IAS Vaishali Chopra Takes a Stand Against Caste Bias During Field Training in Uttar Pradesh
While the issue itself may seem small, the post is resonating widely online for its honest reflection...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
MDL_Mazagaon_ltd
Veni Thapar Appointed as Independent Director on Board of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd.
NTPC Green Energy Ltd NGEL
NGEL Gives 378MW Wind Energy Project to Suzlon Energy Ltd
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT