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Combating Opium Addiction

Combating Opium Addiction is a film by Seemanta Jyoti Baishya from Assam that focuses on the story of opium addiction and its management for communities living near the Indo-Myanmar border. The British introduced opium in the region in an attempt to “control” these remote communities and today whole families including children are addicted to opium. The film documents the stories of some of the addicts and well as the work of a student body in providing opium rehabilitation services, and also livelihood support for those in recovery.

  • Seemanta Jyoti Baishya
    Director
  • Wanmei Konyak
    Director
  • Green Hub
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Community, Social Issue
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 42 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 15, 2019
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
Director Biography - Seemanta Jyoti Baishya, Wanmei Konyak

Seemanta Jyoti Baishya, lovingly called by friends as “Snake-man” is a 5th batch (2018-2019) Green Hub Fellow. Since 2014, Seemanta has been volunteerily associated with the Green Guard Nature Organization while simultaneously completing his graduation with Zoology honours from Jagi Road College. Seemanta basically works with wildlife rescue, mostly snakes, and with the community on human-elephant conflict mitigation in Chapanala area at the border of Nagaon and Karbi Anglong districts of Assam. During his fellowship, Seemanta was mostly involved with this film. Post the fellowship, he continues to work with the Green Guard Nature Organization. Seemanta is also freelancing as a wildlife and conservation filmmaker. Occasionally, he also poses as a resource person for wildlife rescue and forest survival programs.

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Director Statement

When I had joined the fellowship, I had made up my mind to work on a film portraying the wildlife and biodiversity of our Northeast. When I got assigned to work on this film, I was a little skeptical at first. I felt like I would not be able to work with the community. But when I reached the Changlangshu village and interacted with the community and got to know what they were doing, it changed my perspective. I immediately felt a connection to the place and the issue. Through this film, I wanted to bring out the work that the youth and the community are doing in the area. For me it is a one of a kind program being implemented by the Joint Action Committee Against Opium Addiction (JACAOA) and I felt the sincere need to showcase their work through this film.