Dimapur: Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar on Thursday said intoxication is a huge challenge for society.

Stressing the need to accelerate the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’, he said there were 500 government rehabilitation centres for treatment of intoxication.

“Everyone has to join in this endeavour and pay attention to this challenge. Youths are the strength of our country. Social organisations should also work together to get rid of intoxication from the society,” Kumar said while inaugurating a ‘Chintan Shivir’ here.

The Union Social Justice and Empowerment minister said Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATF) were also being set up at government hospitals to further help youths cope with intoxication and be part of a nation building.

He stressed the need to have the willpower to implement welfare schemes of the ministry in the northeastern states and union territories.

“There has to be willpower to implement the various initiatives introduced by the central government. Nasha Mukt Bharat, Kaushal Vikas Yojana for youth, senior citizens’ welfare, and wellbeing of the scheduled castes and tribes of the society,” Kumar said.

He said the Chintan Shivir is a space, through which the government reaches out to the very last person sitting in the last row of the society.