ETV (Urdu) featured NADA Ear Acupuncture

ETV (Urdu)featured NADA Ear acupuncture in their half an hour evening program "Sahet & Zindagi" on 14Th Oct.2009. NADA Detox & Wellness center operates from Rukmani Devi Poly Clinic 10/28, Yogmaya Temple (Inside) Near (SDM office) Mehrauli New Delhi. Dr.Ajay Vats NADA ADS & trainer explained how NADA ear acupuncture works in stress management,alcohol treatment and general well being. The three success stories were also shown as part of the program. Suneel Vatsyayan, Chairman of the Nada India Foundation explained how use of ear acupuncture is a health prevention approach and helps people specially to those who avoid treatment.

Nada India set up a stall on 2nd of November at the Shri Satya Sai Auditorium, New Delhi

Nada India had set up a stall along with World Comics India in the NGO exhibit of the event. The NGO Exhibit was meant to showcase the NGO’s where the students of SIMC are interning in. The event was a success for Nada India Foundation in terms of media visibility and got the media coverage and recognition for its Pehchaan program and for the cause of substance and drug abuse among the youth. There were interactions between the Youth Coordinator of Nada – Deepak with the participants of the event. Nada India was also invited to set up their stall in college-level events in the city.
The media trainees of SIMC, Pune organize an annual interactive media seminar across 24 cities in India and one in Dubai. The Delhi chapter took place on the 2nd of November at the Shri Satya Sai Auditorium, Lodhi Road.
The focus of the event was on “Going Green”. Speakers like Mr. Sanjay Jain, technical director -EQMS, Mr. Sanjay Prakash, member Balaton Group (International environmental agency), Mr Vinay Tewary, managing editor, CNN-IBN, Dr. Seema Javed from Greenpeace as well as the chief of New Global Indian, Dr. Ajit Kumar

Nada India in the news "We shall over come"

A national Hindi women magazine "Vanita" (Nov.2009 issue) published one page report "We shall over come" on Nada India women related interventions and success stories.The Article features Anju,Firdos,Bhawana&Sajada the peer educators and their success stories. The article also covers an overall view of the Pehchaan activities in the field of women empowerment and welfare ,drug abuse treatment and prevention. Nada runs vocational training center for women and coaching classes for their children also at Chattarpur Village, Delhi.

Ear Acupuncture Protocol Meets Global Needs

NADA International Newsletter May 2009.
......The 21st century has brought a remarkable expansion in the use of the NADA
protocol. It is used in 130 prisons in England. Correction officers provide all the treatments under a 5 year training contract by Smart‐UK. The jail program was expanded because of an 80% reduction in violent incidents. Post trauma treatments have been given to community members after 9/11 and Katrina. Treatments for firemen have been permanently institutionalized in both cities. Ear acupuncture for stress has been used by thousands of para military personnel(Border Security Force) in India
through NADA India. NADA acupuncture has changed the face of psychiatric hospital care in Northern Europe. 3,000 nurses have been trained in 100 different government facilities. Refugee services in war‐torn areas have been particularly impressive. The DARE program in Thailand has provided ear acupuncture for many years with a dozen different Burmese tribes in border camps.....

Global Hangover from Pierre Andersson

Global Hangover from Pierre Andersson on Vimeo.

"Do Drugs Control Your life?Your community.No place for Drugs."

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

The slogan for the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 26 June,2009, is "Do drugs control your life ? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs."
Studies have proved that people who start smoking cigarettes and/or drink alcohol at a young age are much more likely to experiment with illegal drugs than people who do not smoke or drink. This is the reason why Nada India has been reaching out to the young people by organizing a series of artistic events like painting and theater by THE ISHARA PUPPET THEATRE TRUST & Nada Deep group with slogan “Do drugs control your creativity and family?” at Jawahar Bhawan Mandi Village,Chattarpur Vllage and Kusumpur Pahari,Moti Lal Nehru camp(Slum opposite JNU) and Massodpur Village . Mr.Bisth In charge Jawahar Bal Bhawan Mandi village & Mr.Suneel Vatsyayan Chairman Nada India Foundation gave away the certificate and handbills on drug prevention issues were distributed among the adolescents. The event at Mandi Village was oragnised in colloberation with National BalBhawan.The participation of senior citizens underlined the vital role of the senior citizens in filling the gap between the adolescents. These activities are supported by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Nada India aims to raise awareness of the major problem that legal and illegal drugs represent to society. No individual, family or community is safe where legal or illegal drugs take control. Drugs may control the body and mind of individual user. Use of correction fluid among school going and street children is on rise in Delhi says Suneel Vatsyayan Chairman Nada India.
The Pehachaan campaign's goal is to inspire children, adolescents, women and mobilize senior citizens to support drug prevention. Nada India supports and facilitates community initiatives with young people and women in crises and uses peer based approach.

The Difference between:A lost Generation & Happy Childhood

The difference between: A lost Generation and Happy Childhood

Please visit

http://www.youtube.com/nadaindia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHX9TltyqC0

Drug /alcohol abuse by their parents impacts their lives..

Drug abuse takes away their meals and education..drug abuse causes verbal abuse and domestic violence .drug abuse increases the risk of HIV/AIDS infection.drug abuse causes premature death of their parentsSubstance abuse by their parents takes away their child rights.Your donation impacts their lives.

You donation helps the parent to overcome their addiction..educates the parents about the risk of an HIV/ AIDS infection..can prevents a child joining the labor force.

Your donation ensures a care free and happy childhoodAll donations are exempted under Section 80-G, Income Tax Act. Please Feel free to contact us if you want to contribute in any way possible.Visit us www.nadaindia.info or Contact Mob. 9810594544,nadaindia@gmail.com

Starting Indian Youth Federation

The Indian Temperance Youth Federation (ITYF) is a network of 13 organizations from 10 states, among them IOGT International members MASOS, Amerdeep, Brain Society, Nada India Foundation and Temperance Association of Orissa. In February they had their first meeting in Bubaneshwar, Orissa, India. There they approved and adopted the ITYF constitution and all the participant organizations endorsed in the constitution by giving the ITYF membership pledge. During the meeting the first Board members were elected and it was also unanimously reaffirmed by the present members that young people will play an active and central role in the development and management of ITYF activities under the guidance of elders. The National Secretary of ITYF is V. Thangavel of IOGT International member organisation MASOS. Mr Thangavel is also one of the initiators of the initiative to create this youth network in India. Also the National Secretariat of ITYF will be at MASOS Guild in Chennai. The activities of the network will be to start community based youth groups….. For details visit http://www.iogt.org/index.asp?id=813&thread=219&box=219&view=article

Nada India Channel on Youtube

Please visit the following link for videos on Nada India activities
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=nadaindia

Mr.Suneel & Mrs. Pallavi of Nada India Foundation attended the joint workshop of IOGTand IFNGO in Kuching Malaysia from 9th Dec.-13th Dec 2008

Mr.Suneel & Mrs. Pallavi of Nada India Foundation attended the joint workshop of IOGT International and IFNGO in Kuching Malaysia from 9th Dec.-13th Dec 2008 . Nada India Foundation is member of IOGT International and IFNGO ....

....It was an event with highly involved participants and both experienced and prestigious guests. The 430 delegates experienced three days of new information, dedicated people and the diversity and richness of Borneo. The whole conference was opened by a lecture on alcohol presented by Mr David Templeman from ADCA Australia and was followed by the IOGT International President Sven-Olov Carlsson who gave his view on the alcohol situation in Southeast Asia. The topic of gateway drugs has not previously had such a prominent position in an IFNGO workshop although the full name of the organisation is "for the Prevention of Drug and Substance Abuse". During the course of the conference there were many topics and themes presented such as the role of religions, methods, tools and effective approaches and capacity building of NGOs. Parallel to the conference was a youth workshop with altogether 40 participants from IFNGO as well as IOGT member organisations. IFNGO has now declared that there will be a youth conference also at the next regional as well as international workshop. The youth also participated in some of the lectures and in the dinners of the main workshop and they presented the needs the youths to be active in the field of alcohol and drug prevention and how the organisations could work together. The IOGT participants came from the region as well as Europe and made up for about 100 of the conference participants. Both India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Iran and Sweden were represented as well as the Board. At the special session for IOGT members the participants agreed that IOGT should start to formulate points that should be included in a global alcohol policy to be used when every organisation goes to lobby their national governments and to work together with GAPA to formulate the common proposal for NGOs. …

You can read all the recommendations below.

http://www.iogt.org/index.asp?id=800&view=news

You can also go to IFNGOs website to read more about the organisation and about the conference, www.ifngo.org

Chairman, Nada India participated in the 7th AFTC Conference Bangkok

Mr.Vatsyayan with Mr. Edie L. Castilo ,

the new elected President of AFTC.

The 7th AFTC Conference was held in Siam City Hotel, Bangkok from 10th November till 12th November 2008 organised by The Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Programme (CPDAP), National Council on Social Welfare of Thailand (NCSWT), Asian Federation of Therapeutic Community (AFTC), Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and funded by Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL). 132 delegates from 15 countries around Asia participated in the conference with its theme ‘ Sharing What Works’

Mr.Suneel Vatsyayan shared his experience as part of discussions on setting up of drop in center and how use of ear acupuncture can provide the drug users an opportunity to feel strength within them before they commit themselves to enter in to treatment & rehabilitation program.Mr.Vatsyayan shared Nada project activities of ARPAN (Association of Recovering Peer Action Network), an action network for trauma-related to drugs, & HIV/AIDS.

Mr.Vatsyayan also participated in the AFTC Annual General Meeting on November 11, 2008, Mr. Edie L. Castilo Philippines was elected as a new president of AFTC. Nada India has been a member of AFTC.

NADA International News September 2008

Euro Psych Nurses for U.S. Video
The NADA conference in Dallas (April 2008) got an excellent report
from Kajsa Landgren on the vastly expanded use of NADA in European psychiatric hospitals.
This year at the Ann Arbor conference in June 2009 we want to expand on this lesson.
We can bring 1-2 nurses from each country that has a large NADA mental health program to our Ann
Arbor conference. These countries include Denmark, Sweden, Germany,
Switzerland—let me know if there…….http://acudetox.com/news/


NADA Earns trust from state of Louisiana
The tragedy of hurricane Katrina (2005) flooding the city of New Orleans has led to a remarkable advancement in NADA’s
role in that location. Due to success of treating New York City firemen after 9/11, NADA acupuncturists, led by Wendy Henry, were sent to New Orleans in 2005 to treat homeless and highly stressed police and fire personnel.
These treatments were very popular and led to the suggestion that all first responders have NADA training. NADA acupuncturist Laura Cooley talked to state officials extensively during that time. When Laura finally spoke to the
attorney for the Louisiana State Medical Board, he replied “tell us what your ideal scenario is.” They were impressed by the evidence that NADA acupuncture was effective in managing the stress, depression and ennui which are still very common 3 years after Katrina…… Read more http://acudetox.com/news/


Peer counseling grows in Ethiopia
On my second trip to Ethiopia in Feb 2008 we had a small grant from SAGE (Standing Against Global Exploitation) to
duplicate their survivor leadership model in East Africa. The community leaders in Mekelle, a provincial capital, selected 8
women as peer counselors. These women were HIV+, frequently abandoned by their families, and probably were former commercial sex workers. The resourcefulness and compassion of the women was evident from our first session.
They were eager to learn and brought in friends to be helped by the host agency, African Services Committee (ASC).
I have just heard that ASC has given a training stipend to 22 more peer counselors. What a wonderful development.
These stipends of $100 each are equal to 1/3 the basic annual salary in Ethiopia. Of course, acupuncture is...... Read more http://acudetox.com/news/

Networking , Partnership Building and Convergence for Drug Addiction Prevention and Control

Mr.Suneel Vatsyayan, Chairman Nada India Foundation conducted an interactive session on “Networking , Partnership Building and Convergence for Drug Addiction Prevention and Control” on September 12, 2008 The LNJN NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CRIMINOLOGY & FORENSIC SCIENCE Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India organized a National Sensitization Workshop on Drug Abuse Prevention .. Dr. B. N. CHATTORAJ, Professor of Criminology, Chaired the session.

The Workshop was attended by senior level officers from the Criminal Justice System from all over the country including Inspector General of Police, Dy. Inspector General of Police, Dy. Commissioner of Police, Addl. Director General of Police, District and Sessions Judges, Addl. District Sessions Judges, Sr. Level Officers from Prisons and Prosecution. Some prominent NGOs working in the field of Drug Abuse Prevention also participated.

Computer education ignites a new energy among senior citizens of Mendawali Village in east Delhi

MCD Recreation center for senior citizens has been locked for almost six years, the day it was constructed in Mendawali village, east Delhi; it was discovered by trainees of Pehachaan computer community training program organized by Nada India Foundation in collaboration with National Institute of Social Defence Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment The location of this center was found on internet while surfing on Google search engine by trainees of computer course.

Mr.Phool Singh 64, rededicate himself to revive the recreation center for senior citizen, he says computer community education program helped him to build his lost identity as local leader. Once, he was focal point of local politics but left everything gradually and put on the margin of the changed village.

During the initial discussions and survey, senior citizens denied the need of such training at this age and laughed away the proposal of joining the course. They talked about what the people would think specially their grand children or neighbors. Going every day for computer class and community lunch with old friends has helped people in neighborhood to change their mind set and attitude towards old people. A camp of Naturopathy and ear acupuncture was also organized by Nada India and Delhi Institute of Naturopathy after the completion of the course. Dr. Michael O. Smith a psychiatrist and internationally recognized acupuncturist from Lincoln Hospital New York gave the ear acupuncture treatment for wellbeing (3points NADA protocol) and awareness talks by naturopaths on health & nature to senior citizens and adolescents.
All the 20 trainees of this computer training program constituted micro credit self help group with an elected convener Mr.O.P. Sharma and Mr.Bisth as treasurer of the Varisth Nagrik Mitra Sangh. Now, the group meets once a week in the park for ear acupuncture for wellbeing and also discusses issues and concerns related to senior citizens and adolescents like health services for senior citizens and use of drugs, HIV/AIDS, character building etc. The Sangh has set an agenda of the year is as follows
· Reopening and taking charge of Senior Citizen Recreation Center at Mendawali village
· Health & safety of Senior Citizens
· Adolescents related issues and concerns like education, health, drug & HIV/AIDS.

During certificate distribution ceremony, on 3rd Jan 2007 , Ms.Saraswati Dy. Director (Training), National Institute of Social Defense highlighted the importance of community based computer training programs in igniting a new energy among the senior citizens. She added that Nada India’s strength lies in its participatory approach and community mobilization by empowering the senior citizens and adolescents where they are.

Mr.Suneel Vatsyayan, Trustee & Chairperson of Nada India Foundation added that starting programs where people are at and supporting their initiatives at local level with the help of community based organizations like Delhi Institute of Naturopathy and Sristy Prabha a youth driven community initiative & an affiliate member of Nada India Network. He also explained on this occasion that Pehachaan (Identity), a program of Nada India is an effort to help senior citizens, women and adolescents to build on their identity by engaging them in computer learning, radio club activities and community development process.
The uniqueness of this program lies in the involvement of adolescents in the senior citizens learning process and it provides an opportunity to both grand children and grand parents to come closer to each other. As part of the computer training course senior citizens were given practical and theoretical inputs on computer components, correct positioning at the computer, how to turn the computer on, mouse control ,opening a new document ,retrieving a saved document, saving to the hard drive, how to change picture of desk top. Course was also aimed at giving the senior trainees an introduction to sending emails and using the World Wide Web (www). And this is how they searched the location of the recreational center which belongs to them locally.

INDIA: Sixty and still going strong
.NEW DELHI (ExpressIndia), September 7, 2008 http://www.seniorsworldchronicle.com/

Sixty and still going strong: A Network member of Nada India

...........Last year, a Chattarpur-based NGO, Nada India Foundation, visited the locality to impart computer training to senior citizens. “I enlisted for the classes, where people exhorted me to form a society,” says Singh. Luckily, for Singh, the Mandawali community centre set up by the MCD in 2000 was lying vacant—as per Government regulations, any registered charitable society could apply for it. “Nobody ever paid any attention to it. It served as a meeting joint for gamblers,” says Singh. Along with a few others, Singh promptly formed and registered the Senior Citizens Association, of which he is the president.
They began with 18 members. In February this year, the 200-sq-ft centre, located in the middle of the Mandawali Subzi Mandi, was opened. Singh, who went from door to door after his daily morning walk to enlist people, is now proud of the 114-member association. For the past six months, opening the doors of the centre at 9 a.m. and closing them at 5.30 p.m. has been a daily ritual for Singh. “I clean the hall every morning,” he says. Singh also actively participates in the upkeep of the colony...... Read more http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Sixty-and-still-going-strong/358232/

A training session on “Positive thinking for Good living” at NTPC

On 2nd September, 2008, Nada India team of professionals conducted a training session on “Positive thinking for Good living” for the workers of National Thermal Power Corporation at Badarpur Unit New Delhi The workshop was participatory in nature. The workshop's emphasis was on healthy living and how positive thinking effects relationship & productivity. The workshop was organized by Bhartiya Yog Sansthan .

NADA, ADS Dr. Ajay Vats conducted a training session on Ear Acupuncture: A treatment readiness approach in addiction treatment

Leadership of Nada India and NADA, ADS Dr. Ajay Vats conducted a training session on Ear Acupuncture: A treatment readiness approach in addiction treatment & rehabilitation. The session was participatory and based on experiential learning. The one month training course was organized by Society for Promotion of Youth & Masses, RRTC-North, in partnership with National Institute of Social Defence, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India on "Drug Abuse Prevention" from 10th August to 9th September 2008 at SPYM Centre, New Delhi.
This training course is to enhance the capacity of service providers (Counsellors/Social Workers, doctors and nurses of NGOs working in the area of drug demand reduction from Utter Pradesh, Jammu, Medhya Predesh and Rajasthan.

NADA Protocol

The NADA Protocol http://www.acudetox.com/
In the mid-1970s, Michael Smith, a medical doctor at Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx area of New York, modified an existing system of auricular acupuncture into a simple technique for the treatment of many common drug addictions as an alternative to methadone. This selection of ear points proved to be extremely effective in the treatment of addictions, and became what is now referred to as the “NADA protocol.”

......While the NADA protocol is an important component of any detoxification program, it is by no means the only component. A patient’s behavior and attitude, along with the perceptions of the clinician delivering care, are also integral to successful treatment. The NADA protocol is often used with other treatment modalities, such as counseling, support groups and self-help programs, to increase the overall effectiveness of care....http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/abc/nadaprotocol.php

The Support Group Route to Rehab

The Support Group Route to Rehab

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/The-Support-Group-Route-to-Rehab/349636/
RICHA BHATIA Posted online: Sunday , August 17, 2008 at 11:06:38Updated: Sunday , August 17, 2008 at 11:06:38
Suneel Vatsyayan has introduced peer-based community therapy in de-addiction centres
On an ordinary day, Mukesh Narang, a 36-year-old drug addict, would not have woken up at 5.30 a.m. to do household chores. But at Nai Kiran, a de-addiction centre in Narela, he is one of 58 inmates—drug addicts and alcoholics—who follow a strict regimen. “When an addict comes to us, he is very aggressive. It is difficult to make him see reason. A month of doing community work with other addicts usually brings about massive behavioural change in the inmate,” says Bharat Bhushan, founder of the centre.
A former drug addict himself, 44-year-old Bhushan picked up the peerbased model for a centre from Suneel Vatsyayan, director of the Navjyoti Delhi Police Foundation, where he spent a year undergoing training. “I had ego problems and was extremely headstrong,” says Bhushan, who was an electrician by profession. Now, he runs four community-managed centres.
Vatsyayan, a 46-year-old relationship counsellor, first introduced this model at the Foundation in 1988. He trained a group of 20 people—including 15 drug addicts—in counseling, event management, communication, primary healthcare and even theatre. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime supported the project. “We have made community therapy more need-based and peer-based,” says Vatsyayan, who has so far treated about 10,000 drug addicts.
“Detoxification is the first step. We also use ear acupuncture as per Nada India Foundation (NIF) treatment protocol. This facilitates retention, reduces violence and has more voluntary admissions,” says Vatsyayan, who is now the chairman of the NIF. Holding a counselling session at Nai Kiran—a network member of NIF, he explains that it is not the addict himself but the family members who have an important role to play in treatment and rehabilitation. “Drugs can make a person very unsocial,” says Vatsyayan, addressing an eclectic group of engineers, doctors and businessmen.
Bansi Lal, a 65-year-old resident of Old Delhi who joined the centre last month, says, “A group healing environment is a powerful thing.” Unable to deal with family problems, Lal became an alcoholic. “I grew despondent and started drinking. Gradually I got addicted and my family members sent me here,” says Lal. Vatsyayan says the availability of alcohol is a factor in addiction. “Next is heroin and then cannabis,” adds Vatsyayan, who also conducts training sessions at other centres.
Vatsyayan, who has trained under Dr Michael O. Smith, a psychiatrist and acupuncturist from New York, plans to set up de-addiction facilities for women. “There is a lot of stigma attached to treating women addicts. Women mostly suffer from alcohol and pharmaceutical drug abuse. Rather than setting up separate de-addiction centers, we can implement home-based and OPD-based therapy,” points out Vatsyayan, working for a drug-free, reformed society.`

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

The slogan for the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 26 June,2008, is "Do drugs control your life ? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs." A month long Pehachaan campaign concluded on 26th July with a workshop on drugs & gender for adolescents and ear acupuncture based health camp at Chhatterpur village .Studies have proved that people who start smoking cigarettes and/or drink alcohol at a young age are much more likely to experiment with illegal drugs than people who do not smoke or drink. This is the reason why Nada India has been reaching out to the young people by organizing a series of artistic events like painting and theater by Nada Deep group with slogan "Do drugs control your creativity and family?" at Jawahar Bhawan Mandi Village . Mr.Suneel Vatsyayan Chairman Nada India Foundation gave away the prizes and Chavanprash were distributed among the adolescents. Last three programs of the Nada Deep group on drugs and families at Senior citizen Forum Chhattarpur village ,Mendawali village and Ramprestha Dist. Ghaziabad roped in the senior citizens in the Pehchaan campaign for drug prevention. The participation of senior citizens underlined the vital role of the senior citizens in filling the gap between the adolescents.

Nada India aims to raise awareness of the major problem that legal and illegal drugs represent to society. No individual, family or community is safe where legal or illegal drugs take control. Drugs may control the body and mind of individual user. Use of correction fluid among school going and street children is on rise in Delhi.

The Pehchaan campaign's goal is to inspire children, adolescents and women and mobilize senior citizens to support drug prevention. Nada India supports and facilitates community initiatives with young people and women in crises and uses peer based approach.

A street called satire

38-year-old Hardeep Lal a member of Nada India network…
…“A plain hobby turned into a profession. For the street plays, I made the costumes myself from bed sheets and odd items, recalls Lal as he conducts a workshop for adolescent girls at Nada India Foundation in Chhattarpur.” … Indian Express July 27,2008 ...
A street called satire
RICHA BHATIA
Posted online: Sunday, July 27, 2008 at 2351 hrs IST
Hardeep Lal and his Deep Group use satire in street plays to get their message across Hardeep Lal’s teenage years in Jalandhar were spent spreading awareness on social issues such as alcoholism and family planning through the Ram Lilas staged every Dusshera. Says 38-year-old Lal, who moved base to Delhi in 1987, “ Alcoholism is a major issue in Punjab and I could see that in my immediate surroundings. My father also suffered from this and it affected our family. I joined a local social organisation Sewak Dal and performed Punjabi plays for them on alcoholism”.
The hobby turned into a profession. “For the street plays, I made the costumes myself from bed sheets and odd items,” recalls Lal as he conducts a workshop for girls at the Nada India Foundation in Chhattarpur.
“Always remember to add a touch of humour to your dialogues otherwise the audience will lose interest,” says Lal as he instructs 18-year-old Anita on dialogue delivery.
This is, in fact, the guiding principle of Lal’s Delhi-based
22-member troupe called Deep Group that set up in 1994.
“Satire is very important as it is an effective way of getting your message across, especially with lower-income groups for whom we perform frequently. There have been times when a few compulsive alcoholics left drinking after they saw our play Ab to Jaago on alcoholism,” says Lal.
So how did he begin? “As a teenager I sang in orchestras at night and also mimicked a local Punjabi star Meher Mittal. That made me hugely popular,” says Lal. These experiences gave a robust authenticity to Lal’s plays that are popular for their scathing satire.
He got his big break with Laado Ki Shaadi, a 45-minute play that combined comedy with sharp satire on child marriage and the subsequent dangers of early pregnancy. It was a huge success with many trial runs in Jehangirpuri, Dilshaad Garden, Shashi Garden, Patparganj and other areas. Currently, Lal is staging plays on the Delhi government project Save Child.
“It has already been performed in nine dispensaries,” says Lal whose group has staged over 3,000 plays so far.
Recently, he invested in a sound system which has a sound-mixer. “Everybody in the group uses a mike so that people can hear clearly,” says Lal who works along with 27 NGOs. He draws on his old Hindi music collection for providing music in his plays.
“Songs from Dhool ka Phool and Mother India are frequently used and add to the story. After every play we conduct a quiz with the audience to see how much they have learnt,” says Lal.
In fact, most of the members of his group joined only after watching his plays. One such is Pradeep Pandey from ITO who became a member after watching one of the plays staged by the group at Pragati Maidan.
“All the members of the troupe are non-actors who joined after watching our performance and I trained them in script-writing, acting and dialogue delivery,” says Lal.
If it hadn’t been for his commitment to theatre, Lal would have been working with groups that work for animals. To date, he has nursed about 25 birds and paid for their treatment.
Clearly, Lal is a man of many parts.

Recovery from drug addiction

Recovery from drug addiction

NITIKA MIDHA
Action network for trauma-related to drugs, HIV/AIDS, violence and crime
Drug abuse has been prevalent in our society for long. Excessive usage of drugs leads to addiction and increased dependency on them, apart from causing physical ailments. The extent and usage of drugs spans from rural population to the urban, from defence to prison population and from adolescents to the aged. Drug consumers range demographically, socially, economically and in gender as well.
In spite of various awareness programmes by Govt. and NGOs indicating the repercussions on an individual and society, drug abuse continues to plague our society as a disease and the path to recovery for the addicted is full of hurdles. Relapse is a step which no one can evade during the recovery process.
For any recovering person, motivation and guidance are the two major pre-requisites. And who other than peer group can fulfil this requirement more effectively and efficiently.
Peer based initiatives
It is so because on a whole, belonging to the same age group, background, culture and/or social status, individuals easily confide in their peers. This leads to the developing of strong bonds with each other as the confidence and trust enables an individual to share all his/her thoughts, feelings, anxieties and ambitions. Apart from this, having faced a similar situation as that of his/her peers, everyone is able to empathise easily and provide motivation that helps in bringing about the change. With these thoughts in mind, Nada India Foundation initiated ARPAN (Association of Recovering Peer Action Network). ARPAN project is an action network of peer-based initiative for recovering people from disability and trauma related to drugs, HIV/AIDS, violence and crime. The project was nurtured to promote peer support and facilitate the setting up of minimum standards of care for those who want to organise rehabilitation services. The word ARPAN in Sanskrit means to present or to offer in dedication. Accordingly, Nada India offers its efforts for the promotion of health, education and productivity aiming at a drug free life.
As Mr. S. Vatsyayan, Chairman, Nada India, says, “I have seen these people grow like a child and with time accept the fact that success and failure are a part of life and there is somebody for them who has given them a right to fail. Each day of recovery brought to them confidence and helped them come out of the pain.”
Recovery process
The seeds of ARPAN were sown as early as 2000 when some of the recovering addicts/peer counsellors/educators, as part of Guru Shishya parmpara became part of drug treatment and rehabilitation process and later on established rehabilitation centres for their fellow members.
The idea was developed at Nada, keeping in mind the fact that when a person passes through a deep sense of pain, he/she tends to find an answer to problems in the recovery process of a peer. With the nurturing of ARPAN, various rehabilitation centres like Mukti, Nai Disha, Nai Kiran, Aman, Ujjala, Shreya, Prithvi Durga Foundation, Parivertan and many more mushroomed in different parts of Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Following the12-step programme along with peer based approach for recovery, these centres engage the inmates in yoga, medical care and counselling sessions to provide them an enabling environment for change.
Mr. Ashwini of Prithvi Durga Foundation and a recovering person himself says, “Peer led intervention plays an important role in the recovery process.” According to the need assessment survey by Nada, these centres need accreditation, recognition and technical inputs to build on their identities.
© Copyright 2000 - 2008 The Hindu http://www.hindu.com/op/2008/07/06/stories/2008070651551400.htm

Drug addicts responded well with ear acupuncture treatment at Nada India site in Rajasthan

PATIENTS RESPOND WELL AT NADA/INDIA TREATMENT SITE in Sri Ganger Nager Rajesthan . A positive outcome report was recently issued on 100 addiction patients who received NADA acupuncture as part of their treatment at the Tek Chand Sidana
Memorial Hospital and De-addiction Centre in Sri Ganganagar, a city in the Indian state of Rajasthan, a thriving rural area near the Pakistan border.
The patient group represented three religious affiliations – 37 Hindu, 15 Muslim and 48 Sikh. In socioeconomic status, 12 patients were “high”, 71 were “middle” and 17 were “low”. Acupuncture was made available every day for the patient’s first five days, then twice a week until discharge. Everyone in the group experienced at least three needling sessions and half of them attended seven or more sessions. Sixty-five of the patients self-reported that the needling reduced their craving and withdrawal symptoms, while staff members and family members of the patients reported the positive acu effort in a somewhat higher number of patients (72 and 70 respectively). Evaluations of the three main classes of patients by a psychiatrist, with reference to the ICD-10, found that the acupuncture was “very much effective” in 20 of the 25 primary alcoholics, in 14 of the 38 opioid addicts, and in 13 of the 37 multiple addicts. According to the report, the de-addiction center uses a holistic approach with a team of providers including psychiatrists, psychologists, medical practitioners, social workers and counselors. Group therapy, family counseling and vocational rehabilitation play a role alongside the acupuncture, which, in the opinion of the center, provides a “non chemical alternative that can offset the motivation to use drugs again.”
The report was authored by Nada India member Dr.Roop Sidana MD Psychiatrist and Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist (NADA) and his colleagues.

Source: Guidepoints News from NADA September 2007

Women & Drugs: A Nada initiative supported by UNODC(ROSA) Project I49

Women have always been a victim of suppression, exploitation and injustice. In today’s so called fast pacing world, women are being left behind due to increased exploitation against them. From the traditional times, women have been considered as inferior beings, who are dependant on men throughout their life. It is due to this dependency that her vulnerability to exploitation and suppression increases. Apart from this, lack of resources, less physical power, debts overburdening the family, being subjected to discrimination and being throw out of the house, women exposed her to prostitution and rape. This in turn acts as a vector for the transmission of HIV/AIDS. Thus, community-based, women-led responses are critical if the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic related to substance use is to be reversed in India for which it is most crucial to address and reduce women’s multiple vulnerabilities rooted in gender inequality, poverty and violence.

With these thoughts in mind, Nada India Foundation decided to provide a platform to girls and women to empower themselves, to become independent and to reduce their vulnerability to sexual exploitation, which they face due to subjugation and suppression. Thus, a programme was born under the flagship of Pehchaan. The different components of the Pehchaan peer based programme included Health education, beautician course, peer training, ear acupuncture based counseling, telephone helpline and self-help groups. The programme runs for five days in a week in which different activities are undertaken according to the prepared schedule.

In order to widespread its activities, Nada also organized a workshop for female partners of drug users getting treated at Sajag & Shayata peer led de-addiction center in Sangam Vihar and Mehrauli. The aim of the workshop was to provide a barrier free service and enabling environment for women who ask for help. During the programme the emphasis was on demonstrating and training the staff of Sajag and Saheata de-addication centers also motivating community people to come forward to help in the setting up of Self-help groups.

Report on Alcohol use & Prevention: Border Security Force Punjab Frontier by Nada India

The Report on Alcohol use & Prevention: Border Security Force Punjab Frontier was presented to Mr.A.K.Mitra IPS Director General Border Security Force under Ministry of Home affairs on 10th July2008 by Mr.Suneel Vatsyayan Chairman Nada India along with Ms.V.Pallavi Program officer Nada. Mr.A.P. Singh Addl. DG Mr.K.Sriniwasan DIG(G) of BSF were also present

Over the years a lot of stress has been noticed in the defence forces. Stress related to work place and locations, stress related to hierarchy, stress related to family matters and political issues in and across the border. The work in the armed forces, especially at borders undoubtedly takes its toll on the personnel. The nature of the job is very demanding with adverse climatic conditions, unperceived hours of work, tight scrutiny, a limited scope for family accommodation status, strict discipline and severe penalties for lapses. Because of these reasons stress takes a toll which may even lead to undertaking of extreme activities like attempt to suicide. Therefore, a need was realized by Nada India to deal with the problem of increasing stress levels in the forces.
Accordingly, Nada along with BSF launched Pehchaan health awareness campaign with focus on stress management and education on alcohol prevention among constables and head constables in different sectors of Kolkata and Punjab. The workshops aimed to address the growing stress related pressure among bordermen, as pointed out by Shri A K Mitra, DG BSF. During the workshop acupuncture technique was used as a therapy. Apart from this peer based approach, outreach based services (like one-to-one education, support groups, speaker’s bureau), behaviour change communication along with counseling sessions were adopted for effective outcomes. Mr. Suneel Vatsyayan, Chairman, Nada India said, ‘We ensured that all our workshops were participatory, peer based and preventive to focus on issues like self esteem and well-being’.
Nada India also undertook an exploratory study to assess the extent of incidence of alcohol use among BSF constables and its correlates of worries, depression and awareness about myths about alcohol and HIV. The Project “Assessing the extent of alcoholism among Border Security Force (BSF) personnel deployed in border areas of Punjab and setting up of /developing prevention, treatment, rehabilitation services in-order to reduce incidence of alcoholism” aimed at creating proactive response to the alcohol abuse and related problem by creating an enabling environment among different stakeholders (Medical as well as administrative and supervisory personnel).