Amid the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, a group of Salesian nurses are helping women combat drug addiction.

Manipur — an Indian state with a population of 3.7 million nestled in the mountains along the border with Myanmar — has been gripped by ethnic violence since last year. Approximately 250 people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced as mobs ravaged villages and set homes ablaze.

However, beyond the ethnic clashes, Manipur is also grappling with a growing drug addiction crisis. Although the issue has plagued the state since the early 1980s, the recent violence has exacerbated the problem. According to The Sangai Express, a local newspaper based in Manipur, one of the main reasons for the rise in drug addiction is the state’s proximity to Myanmar.

READ: New Wave of Violence Erupts Against Christians In The Indian State Of Manipur

Northeast India shares a 1,643 kilometer [1,020 mile] border with Myanmar — part of what’s called “the Golden Triangle” — a “major drug-producing region responsible for 68% of global illicit opium production and refining. Heroin from this region began reaching Western Europe through a newly established smuggling route via China,” according to the report.

Manipur, in particular, “lies along the heroin trafficking route, with many heroin production labs situated near the Indo-Myanmar border,” the newspaper added. “Drugs smuggled from Myanmar to other Indian states through Manipur include amphetamine, brown sugar, crystal methamphetamine, heroin powder … while drugs smuggled from India to Myanmar include codeine, ephedrine, Nitro-sum-10 tablets and Spasmo-Proxyvon capsules.”

In this challenging environment, a group of Salesian sisters, Catholic nuns belonging to the Don Bosco order, have joined the frontlines against this drug epidemic by running a residential rehabilitation center in Manipur’s capital Imphal.

Sister Tresa Karot, secretary of the Sneha Bhavan Rehabilitation Centre, said she believes that although women in Manipur are excelling in education, they are also disproportionately affected by drug addiction.

The rehabilitation center, run by Karot, is exclusively for women.

“During the early ‘90s, I was involved in the education of students at Little Flower School in Imphal,” she told Religion Unplugged. “With the growth of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, drug use increased day by day. I became curious about the drug users, so I visited the jail and spoke to them. At that time, there was no treatment center for female addicts, and they were kept in jail. After encountering them, I felt the need to work with young women to help them reintegrate into society.”

Fighting drug abuse

Initially, there were apprehensions among women about joining rehabilitation programs, but through awareness campaigns and collaboration with NGOs, the center has been able to overcome this mounting challenge.

“We personally visited hotspot areas and encouraged women to seek treatment. We addressed their doubts, and only after that did they start coming to the center,” Karot said.

The facility follows a 12-step therapeutic model inspired by Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous, a global recovery fellowship. It offers a range of services, including yoga, meditation, medical detoxification, individual and group therapy and psychological education.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Salesians' mission in northeastern India. In response to the region’s growing substance abuse issue, particularly in Manipur, the center was established in 1994.

Karot noted that when the center opened, it was the first rehabilitation facility for women in the area. The center is recognized and funded by India’s Federal Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in New Delhi.

Helping all communities in conflict

Regarding their work during the ongoing ethnic violence, Karot emphasized that the center does not serve any particular community — but is open to anyone in need of professional help to achieve sobriety.

However, the conflict has made it difficult for some communities to access the center due to safety concerns.

"Our center is in Imphal, where only Meiteis and Nagas currently reside. There are no Kukis in our center," she said, referring to the different people who live in the region.

The Meitei community is predominantly Hindu, while the Kuki tribe is primarily Christian.

Karot said some patients deal with both drug addiction and emotional trauma, as their homes were destroyed in the violence, forcing them to live in relief camps.

“We have clients from relief camps whose houses were burned down during the conflict,” she said. “These are old clients who were already struggling with addiction before the violence, and now they face a double burden.”

Karot said the center in Imphal is currently helping nearly 3,000 women fight drug addiction, with a recovery rate of close to 50%.

“Since our center works exclusively with women, it would be a great help if the government or international organizations could support us in starting a vocational training or production center,” she said. “This would enable us to help these women lead productive lives and provide sustainable income for their families and children.”

Rishabh Jain is an independent journalist based in Delhi. Follow him at @ThisIsRjain.