ABOUT AMRO
The Agape Moral Reformation Organisation or AMRO for short came into being in 1989. It was formed by a group of parents who were concerned with the rising trend of substance abuse among their school going children and others in their age groups. The primary methods of intake of intoxicants at the time were consumption of cough syrups like phensydil etc. and injection of pain killers like proxyvon dissolved in water as well as consumption of alcohol and smoking ganja.
Initially with no one in the group having much knowledge or experien ce in the field it was decided to hold faith based religious campings to help those young people to stop their habits and live a drugs free and normal life
For the first two years or so the organisation managed to finance the operation with contributions from the founding members and other well wishers. However, with more and more young people coming forward for treatment and the cost of maintaining the camps rising it was decided that the best course of action if we wanted to continue was to register the organisation as an NGO with the government in order to seek financial assistance from the central government. Accordingly we were registered with the Registrar of Societies
Mizoram as per copy of registration enclosed as Appendix I. After registration ap plication was submitted to the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India for annual grants for the maintenance and running of a 15 bedded De-Addiction & Rehabillitation Centre. And thus from the year 1992 AMRO started receiving annual financ ial grants in aid upto the present. AMRO is eternally grateful to the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India for the said financial assistance.
MANAGEMENT
As per provision of the constitution of the organisation the manageme nt of main areas of activities are under the guidance of the Managing Board which is elected by the members in the General Assembly held every three years. The day-to-day business is looked after by the Chairman with the assistance of the Secretary. The li st of the Office Bearers and the members of the current Managing Board is attached as Annexure 2.
ADDRESS OF NGO
All correspondenćes to the organisation may be addressed to:
The Chairman/Secretary
Agape Moral Reformation Organisation (AMRO) RZ Lalbuaia Building,
Venghlui-Republic Road Venghlui, Aizawl, Mizoram, India.
Phone : 0389-2311204 (O) 0389-2330621 (C) FAX :
email : armroaizawl18@gmail.com Chairman: A. Zolianchhuaki
Secretary: Lalthansanga
The Agape Institute Ropaiabawk Chawlhhmun Aizawl, Mizoram. Phone: 8787452419
PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES
I IRCA Project.
This is the project under which AMRO started and continued receiving till date annual grants in aid for the operation of a 15 bedded de-addiction cum rehabiitation centre called the AGAPE INSTITUTE which is run on rented premises at Ropaiabawk, Chawlhhmun, Aizawl for the past 20 years or so. Success rate in this particular field of endeavour is not very high AMRO is quite satisfied with its success in the treatment and rehabillitation of its patients. Once again our gratitude goes to the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India.
Main activities under the project :
The activities may be divided into three main heads.
- De-toxification.
- De-addiction.
- Rehabillitation.
- De-toxification.
This is the process in during which a newly admitted addict is ke pt in isolation or in a seperate room for a period of 1 week to rid his/her body of all the toxins from the drugs or alcohol in their bodies. This is the period in which they suffer most from the withdrawal effects. Once they get through this they are shif ted to the main dormitory where they join others in the next proccess.
- De-addiction.
During this phase of treatment the patients undergo practical lessons in Yoga and physical exercises to maintain their health. They are also given lecture s on the need for maintaining a drug free life and how to lead a normal life. They participate in religious discourses to strengthen thei r spiritual resolve for a better life.
- Rehabilitation:
After going through the foregoing processes the patients are then taught on the need for continueing their education or learning a particular trade for earning a living. For on the spot experience pig and chicken rearing on a small scale is being carried on for a long time. A small vegetable garden is also maintained. The most useful training given since many years is that of weaving of household articles like baskets, mats and other items of every day use in Mizo society. Plastic straps of dif ferent sizes and colors are used in this project and the finished products are sold to the locals at a small profit. This money earned is used to supplement their diet as well as for t he other needs of the centre and the patients.
II. T.I. , IDU PROJECT
In the year 2004/2005 AMRO was selected to participate in T.I., IDU (Tagetted Intervention among Injecting Drug Users) Project and the project area alloted to us was prts of eastern Aizawl. The principal aim of the project was and is to stop t he spread of HIV transmission among injecting drug users which is very high because of sharing of hypodermic needles. The main activities in the project are identification of all the IDUs in the allotted area and registering their names and all relevant particulars including their injecting methods and frequency etc. Hypodermic needles are then made available free of cost to the addicts according to the needs of each individual. They are educated on the dangers of HIV infection through sharing of needles a nd the need for regular health check ups including blood tests for HIV. If anyone from the target group is found to be HIV +ve he o s she is given proper counselling on how to cope with and manage the problem. They are taken to the nearest ART Centre for proper advice and regular medication. Very strict secrecy regimen is followed and maintained on the identity of the infected persons.
III. T.I., IDU PROJECT-KOLASIB
In 2007 AMRO took over this project previously run by World Vision (India) who had to give up the project due to various reasons. It covers Kolasib city and the entire district it is located in. It is managed from the AMRO Office at Diak kawn in Kolasib city by a full complement of staff as that of the project in Aizawl.
IV. MIGRANT PROJECT:
This project, primarily meant for the migrant workers coming from other states i.e. truckers, drivers and construction workers covers the length of National Highway 54 from Vairengte to Aizawl. The primary aim of the project was to create awareness among the migrant workers about the dangers of HIV infection through contacts with the sex workers operating along the highway and in the truck stops. They were educated on the use of condoms which were distributed free of cost. However, this project was discontinued after 3/4 years.
The Targetted Intervention Projects are funded by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Govt. of India through the MIZORAM STATE AIDS CONTROL SOCIETY (MSACS). AMRO is very glad to be selected by MSACS as an NGO Partner. It is also MSACS who, very ably guide and monitor all our operational activities with patience and understanding.
This is but a brief narration on the history of AMRO and its activities which are still going on very strongly with the cooperation and mental and material support of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India, NACO, the Social Welfare Dept. Gov t. of Mizoram, MSACS, various NGOs and Churches as well as individual well wishers.
Special mention may be made here that AMRO was one of the few NGOs selected for the administration of OST tablets to addicts in Aizawl during the peak Covid -19 pandemic months of May
– September, 2020 when movement of the public was very restricted due to lockdowns. The programmed was officially launched at the Agape Institute by the Hon’ble Minister, Social Welfare Dept. Govt of Mizoram in the pr esence of the Director, Social Welfare Dept. and other officials. The project was very successful.
May God bless AMRO and its humble work.